They went to protests in Houston and El Paso, spoke at an online town hall in Midland and held small celebrations amid national upheaval. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Is El Paso ready to reopen? Not all Texas officials agree.
Gov. Greg Abbott gave El Paso an extra week to implement the latest phase of reopening. The county judge says El Paso still isn’t ready to take the next step, but the governor isn’t giving the city an extension.
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Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
With a baby on the way, Midland couple has to decline in-person family celebrations
A family plans a drive-by baby shower. A Houston restaurant gears up to reopen its dining room. And an East Texas town regains a sense of normalcy. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
“There won’t be a goodbye party”: Hospital administrator prepares to retire during pandemic
A hospital administrator gets a special gift. A food pantry worker gets her coronavirus test results. A Midland family cancels its annual fishing trip. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Trump administration announces extension of border-restricted travel
One of the policies quickly returns undocumented immigrants apprehended between ports of entry without allowing them to apply for asylum.
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Coronavirus in Texas
With COVID-19 cases rising, El Paso officials ask governor to exclude them from next phase of reopening
As state officials and some Texas cities tangle over local COVID-19 restrictions, El Paso officials say their area isn’t ready for the next phase of reopening. They want Gov. Greg Abbott to give them an exemption.
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Immigration
Trump administration waives environmental safeguards to fast-track 69 miles of border fence construction
The White House said in February its goal was to build 450 additional miles of barrier by the end of 2020. The 69 miles would be in addition to a 52-mile project also underway in Webb County.
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Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
Dallas food pantry worker gets a boost during the pandemic: a promotion
Mother’s Day brought tough decisions on whether to get together with family, and some took the risk while others spent the day apart. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
“There’s no sense in risking it”: As Texas eases restrictions, a family keeps its social distance
The governor is allowing more businesses to reopen, and Texans are weighing the risks of returning to normalcy. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas DACA recipients working on pandemic’s front lines await Supreme Court ruling
More than 4,000 DACA recipients work in health care in Texas, including many in hospitals. A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling will decide whether they can continue that work — and stay in the country.