New state law increasing sentences for human smuggling takes effect
Senate Bill 4 bumps the minimum sentence from two years to 10 years for human smuggling or operating a stash house. Full Story
![Jesus Vasquez, originally from Honduras, lights candles at a makeshift memorial to the 53 people who died after being left in a truck trailer in a human smuggling operation, on June 30, 2022 outside San Antonio.](https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/v_KgeFoeD2DylTJHpwd5yVIy-_0=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ed90f47a8b48cb05f08386bd9cb97b51/Migrant%20Truck%20Memorial%20SF%20TT%2014.jpg)
Uriel J. García is an immigration reporter based in El Paso. Before joining the Tribune in 2021, he worked at the Arizona Republic where he covered police violence and immigration enforcement. He started his journalism career at the Santa Fe New Mexican where he covered the city's immigrant community and criminal justice issues. Originally from Mexico and a native Spanish speaker, Uriel grew up in Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University.
Senate Bill 4 bumps the minimum sentence from two years to 10 years for human smuggling or operating a stash house. Full Story
The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long-simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures. Full Story
Texas officers are still erecting border wire and some Republicans are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to defy the high court. Full Story
A park on the Rio Grande is the new focus of a long battle over border enforcement that’s reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Full Story
The Justice Department says agents can’t access 2.5 miles of the border and a boat ramp in Eagle Pass. Full Story
Asked how far Texas could legally go to secure the border, Gov. Greg Abbott said the state isn’t shooting people who illegally cross the border because the Biden administration would charge officials with murder. Full Story
The city’s mayor was told the state operation to halt illegal border crossings would last indefinitely. Full Story
More than 33,000 migrants have arrived from Texas since August 2022. The city wants bus companies to pay more than $700 million. Full Story
Senate Bill 4 allows Texas police to arrest immigrants who cross the border between ports of entry. The federal government says the law is unconstitutional. Full Story
Johnson and 60 GOP House members went to Eagle Pass and said they won’t support financial aid for Ukraine or Israel unless the president backs their proposals to secure the border. Full Story