The three former students went to UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas. While they have prevailed in court so far, many other international students’ education futures remain uncertain.
Jessica Priest
Jessica Priest covers higher education, working in partnership with Open Campus. She joined the Tribune in 2022 as an engagement reporter in the ProPublica/Texas Tribune joint investigative unit, contributing to a series that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the explanatory reporting category. Prior to the Tribune, Jessica worked for the Fort Worth Report, USA Today, the Victoria Advocate and the Temple Daily Telegram, reporting on topics that included criminal justice, the environment and local government. Her work has often made an impact. The state’s highest criminal court granted a death row inmate a new trial after she detailed a prosecutor’s conflicts of interest. After she exposed questionable hirings and payments at a port and later a water district in another part of the state, both public entities underwent reforms. Jessica was born in Houston and graduated from Sam Houston State University.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Senate approves bill that could reshape how history and race are taught in state universities
An overhauled version of Senate Bill 37 would also allow anyone to file complaints that could lead schools to lose funds.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT-Rio Grande Valley students caught in nationwide sweep sue Homeland Security over immigration status
The four students were involved in minor criminal cases that have been resolved, which they argue shouldn’t be used to justify ending their higher ed goals in Texas.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas law students warn that bill to quash “terrorist activity” in universities could trample free speech rights
The bill would require universities to report any visa-holding students who support terrorism, but its vague language could be dangerous, civil rights groups say.
Posted in
Higher Education
More than 250 international students’ immigration statuses revoked across Texas universities
The people affected include a University of Houston professor from Korea who was teaching upper level math under a type of student visa that allows graduates to work in their field of study.
Posted in
Higher Education
15 Texas A&M international students might have quietly lost their ability to stay in the U.S.
The Trump administration has said it has revoked the visas of more than 300 international students across the country in the last three weeks.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M can’t ban “Draggieland” drag show, federal judge rules
Judge Lee H. Rosenthal said the student group that organizes Draggieland, the Queer Empowerment Council, was likely to succeed in showing the ban violates the First Amendment.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M Board of Regents names Glenn Hegar as university system’s next leader
Hegar, who currently serves as Texas comptroller, will replace A&M Chancellor John Sharp in leading the 157,000-student system.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Jewish Texans disagree on how to combat antisemitism in schools during hearing on Senate bill
Lawmakers propose addressing antisemitism by requiring schools to use a set definition. Critics say the measure will stifle speech.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Interim UT-Austin president seeks to walk fine line between faculty and lawmakers’ concerns
Jim Davis told professors he’ll share their concerns with lawmakers about proposals that would increase oversight on curricula and hiring. Elsewhere on campus, former UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell criticized the bills.