Senate Bill 4 bumps the minimum sentence from two years to 10 years for human smuggling or operating a stash house.
Uriel J. García
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.
To report a tip, contact Uriel on Signal at @ujohnnyg.83
Texas’ standoff with the feds in Eagle Pass is igniting calls for secession and fears of violence
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.
Texas’ border standoff with feds continues, despite U.S. Supreme Court order
Texas officers are still erecting border wire and some Republicans are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to defy the high court.
In Eagle Pass, a tense border standoff between Texas and the federal government is reaching a crescendo
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.
Abbott’s immigration rhetoric criticized again after interview response about shooting migrants
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.
Feds say Texas is blocking Border Patrol from a section of the border, ask U.S. Supreme Court to intervene
The Justice Department says agents can’t access 2.5 miles of the border and a boat ramp in Eagle Pass.
Texas officers take “full control” of Eagle Pass park against city’s wishes
The city’s mayor was told the state operation to halt illegal border crossings would last indefinitely.
New York City sues bus companies that Texas hired to transport migrants
More than 33,000 migrants have arrived from Texas since August 2022. The city wants bus companies to pay more than $700 million.
U.S. Justice Department sues Texas to halt new state law targeting illegal immigration
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.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visits border, demands that Biden administration crack down on illegal immigration
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.

