The proposed $68 million settlement with a Texas land developer that the Justice Department had accused of preying on Hispanic residents includes no money for the victims but more than $20 million for police and immigration enforcement.
The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit uncovers big stories that matter to Texans and the nation, taking aim at corruption, injustice and malfeasance across the state. Read on for the latest stories, and be sure to sign up to get the latest on the people and policies shaping the future of Texas with the Tribune’s weekday newsletter.
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Investigations
Trump’s DOJ plans to settle Colony Ridge case without compensating victims
The Biden administration sued a Texas land developer accused of duping tens of thousands of Hispanic residents. Trump’s DOJ is now offering an unprecedented settlement that experts say could target the very people who were harmed by the developer.
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Investigations
Trump’s DOJ is pushing prosecutors to pursue “fatally flawed” cases against Texas border crossers
Federal prosecutors, who can face discipline for not advancing the Trump administration’s priorities, are bringing military trespassing charges against immigrants with little evidence.
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The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
A federal tool to check voter citizenship keeps making mistakes. It led to confusion in Texas.
DHS rolled out the revamped tool while it was still adding data. That led to widespread misidentification, particularly for citizens born outside the U.S.
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Investigations
Immigrants challenging their detention have hit a historic high. Here’s a look at the increase.
ProPublica is tracking the historic rise in challenges filed by immigrants claiming their detention is illegal.
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Investigations
Texas court district leads U.S. in immigrants challenging legality of federal detention
The administration’s push for mass deportations has resulted in more than 18,000 habeas petitions, a historic high. Texas and California account for about 40% of cases this year.
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Investigations
Kerr County was among dozens of Texas communities to turn down state flood money, saying it wasn’t enough
Texas earmarked $1.4 billion to help fund flood prevention projects. But after learning that so many communities turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
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Investigations
Gov. Greg Abbott, long a defender of states’ rights, embraces Trump’s push to expand presidential power
Defending Texas sovereignty has been central to Abbott’s political identity. Yet he has helped Trump erode states’ authority over elections, policing and deploying the National Guard.
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Investigations
Gov. Greg Abbott was ordered to release emails with Elon Musk. Most of the 1,400 pages are blacked out.
The heavily redacted emails reveal little of the two men’s relationship.
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Investigations
A Fort Worth church’s online class trains Christians to run for office. Now it may go national.
At the core of the program is the idea that there is no separation between what happens within the church and what happens in the government.