The two firms awarded the contract have previously built barriers and designed ports of entry for the federal government.
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.
Posted in
State Government
State agency recommends two firms to oversee construction of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Texas-Mexico border wall
The state is expected to award the contract in mid-September to begin the construction of a Texas-Mexico border wall.
Posted in
Immigration
The federal government calls it a levee. South Texas immigration advocates and environmentalists see a border wall.
Border wall opponents say President Joe Biden broke his promise to halt border wall construction when Homeland Security started building a wall and calling it a levee.
Posted in
Immigration
Revival of “remain in Mexico” policy could have deadly consequences for asylum-seekers, advocates warn
The Biden administration says it will continue its legal fight against the revival of a Trump-era policy that requires asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases are pending.
Posted in
State Government
Texas House committee approves bill to spend an extra $2 billion on border enforcement
A border sheriff told lawmakers that some landowners who are afraid of migrants crossing their property have asked him, “When can I shoot?”
Posted in
State Government
As Gov. Greg Abbott beefs up border enforcement, some locals want very different kinds of help
Amid the heated rhetoric around an increase in migrants, people on opposite ends of the Texas-Mexico border see the problems — and solutions — differently.
Posted in
Immigration
Texas judge’s order to revive “remain in Mexico” policy misinterprets immigration law, migrant advocates say
Advocates say the policy that forced 70,000 non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are pending will create dire conditions for migrants if it’s revived.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Federal judge extends order blocking Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive for law enforcement to pull over vehicles transporting migrants
Abbott instructed state troopers to pull over civilian drivers transporting migrants who may be infected with COVID-19 and seize vehicles if they don’t comply.
Posted in
Immigration
Dozens of Texas facilities housing child migrants to operate without licenses amid fight between Gov. Greg Abbott and Biden administration
The situation is the result of Abbott ordering the licenses be lifted, followed by a state agency allowing the shelters to continue to operate.
Posted in
Politics
Justice Department sues Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott’s order for law enforcement to pull over vehicles with migrants
On Wednesday, Abbott issued the order, allowing Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to reroute civilian vehicles back to their origin point or a port of entry, or seize the vehicles, if police suspect the driver is transporting migrants who have COVID-19.