After taking a backseat in 2013, legislation to cut off funding to so-called sanctuary cities that don’t use local police to enforce federal immigration laws is under debate before a Senate subcommittee.
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
Demographics
Texas Urged to Crack Down on Employers That Misclassify Workers
Skirting tax laws and knowingly hiring unauthorized workers are common practices in Texas, especially in the state’s construction industry. Lawmakers and workers’ rights groups are trying again to target companies that misclassify workers.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Obama Administration Asks Appeals Court to Let Immigration Plan Proceed
Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice filed an emergency motion asking an appeals court to lift a temporary halt to a federal immigration program that was issued by a Brownsville-based federal judge in February.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Far-Reaching Border Security Bill Clears First Hurdle
After several reassurances from House members about what a border security bill is not intended to do, the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety voted out the sweeping measure on Wednesday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Sanctuary Cities Bill Hits Bump in Texas Senate
A controversial immigration proposal scheduled for a public hearing Monday was postponed after a border Democrat argued that Republicans did not give the public sufficient notice about the meeting.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmaker Wants to Know Immigration Impact
For all the legislative debate about border security and immigration, it’s been nine years since anyone comprehensively studied the economic impact of undocumented Texans. A border lawmaker wants to fill that information vacuum.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State Accuses Obama Administration of Misleading Judge
Attorneys for the state of Texas say the Obama administration started granting work permits to undocumented immigrants before it said it would, and misled a federal judge about it. They’re demanding more details.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Funding for More DPS Border Officers Gets Tentative OK
The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday tentatively approved $105 million in funding for several DPS troopers, but not before some border lawmakers on the panel questioned how the DPS would prove the money is being spent wisely.
Posted in
Demographics
State Urges Judge to Keep Immigration Plan on Hold
The Texas attorney general’s office said Tuesday that President Obama’s own actions should convince a federal judge to keep a controversial immigration plan on hold.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Congress Fully Funds Homeland Security
The 8,900 U.S. Border Patrol agents stationed on Texas’ border with Mexico can clock in next week knowing they’re still going to get paid after Congress on Tuesday voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September.
