Revisit our joint investigation with ProPublica that revealed how the federal government’s rushed, haphazard use of eminent domain led to unequal payments for border residents whose land was seized for a border fence.
Julián Aguilar
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.
Posted in
Politics
O’Rourke, national press association call for Mexican reporter’s release
An effort to free Mexican reporter Emilio Gutiérrez and his son from immigration detention has garnered national attention. And now, a border congressman has also stepped in to advocate for the duo.
Posted in
2017 Year in Review
From border wall fight to new “sanctuary” law, immigration dominated Texas news in 2017
President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration garnered a lion’s share of headlines in 2017. But the state’s Republican lawmakers weren’t about to be upstaged by Washington, D.C. on the hot-button issue.
Posted in
The Taking
The border fence looms over these Texans. Should the government pay them?
Scores of Texas landowners who have lived in the shadow of the border fence for years were never compensated for any damage to their property values.
Posted in
The Taking
The Taking: How the federal government abused its power to seize property for a border fence
A decade ago, many border Texans got a raw deal when the federal government seized land for a barrier — while others pushed up the price. Will the government’s rushed, haphazard process be repeated as it pushes for a border wall?
Posted in
The Taking
El gobierno federal abusó de su poder para apoderarse de propiedades y construir una cerca fronteriza
Hace una década, muchos residentes de la frontera en el estado de Texas recibieron tratos injustos, mientras que otros aumentaron significativamente la oferta, cuando el gobierno federal exigió la venta de propiedades privadas para construir una cerca, según descubrió una investigación de The Texas Tribune y ProPublica. A medida que la administración de Trump sigue presionando para la construcción de un muro fronterizo, ¿se repetirá el proceso apresurado y caótico del gobierno?
Posted in
The Taking
How We Reported ‘The Taking’
About this joint project by the Tribune and ProPublica.
Posted in
Politics
After years of seeking asylum in U.S., a Mexican reporter and his son just narrowly escaped deportation
A Mexican reporter who has sought asylum in the United States for nearly 10 years was, along with his son, abruptly handcuffed and nearly sent back to Mexico on Thursday. Their attorney eventually halted the deportation.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
With border arrests down, some question Trump administration’s push for more agents
The Department of Homeland Security’s announced a near-record decline in the number of people caught trying to enter the country illegally. Yet the Trump administration still wants to hire thousands of more border agents.
Posted in
Demographics
Arrests along border dipped sharply under Trump, according to federal data
Department of Homeland Security officials said on Tuesday that apprehensions of people attempting to enter the country illegally dipped to historic lows during the 2017 fiscal year.
