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Julián Aguilar

Julián Aguilar’s staff photo

Julián Aguilar reported for the Tribune from 2009 to 2021, most recently on politics and on the Texas-Mexico border. He focused on immigration reform and enforcement, voter ID, international trade, border security, and the drug trade. His political coverage has included local, legislative and congressional races in Texas, as well as local and national elections in Mexico. Before joining The Texas Tribune, he was a freelance writer for the Fort Worth Weekly, a government and crime reporter for the Laredo Morning Times, and a political writer for the Rio Grande Guardian. A native of El Paso, he has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas and a master's degree in journalism from the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at the University of North Texas.

Past Contributions

  • Straits of Laredo

    By Julián Aguilar

    Former FBI agent Raul Salinas hopes to win a second term as mayor of this border city, whose reputation has suffered the ill effects of cartel violence just across the Rio Grande. He says he's "friendly" and "accessible." His four challengers portray him as more concerned with photo ops than solving image problems that hamper economic development. Full Story 

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    Credit: Julian Aguilar

  • TribBlog: Murder at Falcon Lake

    By Julián Aguilar

    Law enforcement agencies are again warning patrons of Falcon Lake in South Texas to stay on the U.S. side of the popular fishing spot. The warning follows the fatal shooting of a U.S. man by Mexican pirates who allegedly attacked him after he traveled into Guerrero Viejo, Tamaulipas, on his Jet Ski. Full Story 

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  • "We Do Not Want More Deaths"

    By Julián Aguilar

    "It is impossible to carry out our role in these conditions," read the editorial this week in El Diario de Juárez. "Tell us, therefore, what is expected of us as a medium." The paper was directly addressing Mexican drug traffickers who assassinated its young photographer Luis Carlos Santiago in broad daylight, but the whole world took notice — and asked if the Mexican media was finally waving the white flag before the cartels and gangs now warring for control of the bloodied country. Diario editor Pedro Torres explains that the intent was simply "to call attention to what is going on." Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Terrence Poppa: The TT Interview

    By Julián Aguilar

    The author of Drug Lord on rumors of Mexican political corruption, how the drug war is like Prohibition, why drug traffickers aren't like Muslim extremists, whether the U.S. media really understands Mexico and why Hezbollah has set up shop across the border. Full Story 

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    Credit: Todd Wiseman

  • Terrence Poppa Interview

    By Julián Aguilar

    Terrence Poppa discusses the third edition of his book, Drug Lord, which includes a new epilogue that analyzes how U.S. drug policy has hindered Mexico's efforts to curtail drug violence and corruption. Full Story 

  • The Show Must Go On

    By Julián Aguilar

    Despite the violence-fueled cancellation of bicentennial festivities in other major border towns, Nuevo Laredo plans to forge ahead with its celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Full Story 

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    Credit: Christian Frausto Bernal