Congress

"They should respect our opinions": U.S. reps along the Texas-Mexico border serve as ambassadors for their homes

by Adam Willis

With the focus of Washington on the border, five Texas members of Congress have served as guides for their colleagues and advocates for their constituents. Full Story 

Donald Trump is spending more money on Facebook ads in Texas than in any other state

by Alex Samuels

The spending in the traditionally red state is raising questions about whether he's simply shoring up his support — or treating Texas as potentially up for grabs in 2020. Full Story 

Trump administration aims to make citizenship more difficult for immigrants who receive public assistance

by Abigail Hauslohner and Nick Miroff, The Washington Post

Immigrants who use public benefits — such as Medicaid, food stamps or housing assistance — could have a tougher time obtaining a green card or U.S. citizenship. Full Story 

5th Circuit upholds Indian Child Welfare Act as constitutional, reversing lower court

by Emma Platoff

The appeals court overturned a 2018 decision from a federal district judge who ruled that the law, which gives adoption placement preference to Native American tribes, was unconstitutional. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged the law in 2017. Full Story 

President Trump is in El Paso today. The local congresswoman won’t meet with him.

by Alex Samuels

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar has said that Trump’s divisive rhetoric is in part to blame for a mass shooting that officials have deemed an act of domestic terrorism. Full Story 

Analysis: A small, but ill-timed exodus of Texas Republicans from Congress

by Ross Ramsey

Three Texas Republicans have announced they won't seek reelection in 2020, and that will probably turn out to be an incomplete roster of retirees. It couldn't come at a better time for Democrats hoping to have a hand in redistricting the state's congressional delegation in 2021. Full Story 

Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence claims he arrested 300 undocumented immigrants in a single day. He didn’t.

by Robert O'Harrow Jr. and Shawn Boburg, The Washington Post

John Ratcliffe claimed that as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas in 2008, he led an immigration raid on poultry plants. Others involved in the case say he inflated his role and the raid’s scale. Full Story 

Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd to retire from Congress after holding on to a district Democrats are desperate to flip

by Abby Livingston

President Donald Trump's recent racist comments weighed on Hurd, the last black Republican in the U.S. House. He was the only Texas Republican who voted to condemn Trump's tweets about four congresswomen. Full Story 

U.S. Senate confirms Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Brown to the federal bench

by Emma Platoff

The nod creates a vacancy on the state's highest civil court, giving Gov. Greg Abbott his third opportunity to make an appointment. Full Story 

"I'm coming home": U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway of Midland to retire at the end of his term

by Abby Livingston and Patrick Svitek

Conaway has represented a heavily Republican West Texas district since 2005. Full Story 

U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe to replace Dan Coats as national intelligence director

by Alana Rocha

President Donald Trump is said to have been pleased by the Texas Republican's admonishment of former special counsel Robert Mueller in last week's House Judiciary Committee hearing. Full Story 

TribCast: Wendy Davis makes it official

by Emily Ramshaw and Michael Rey de Leon

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Edgar, Jolie, Abby and Kiah about about Wendy Davis’ entrance into a Central Texas congressional race, the state’s Alternatives to Abortion program, what the Texas coast can learn from the Dutch and how the legalization of hemp is confusing pot prosecutions. Full Story 

State Sen. Royce West enters Democratic primary to challenge John Cornyn

by Alex Samuels

West joins a crowded and unsettled Democratic field of candidates looking to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story 

Analysis: Local Democrats hoping for statewide appeal in a Texas U.S. Senate race

by Ross Ramsey

Democrats looking for a challenger to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn have turned — and not for the first time — to local politicians in Texas who are attempting the leap to statewide politics. It works, sometimes. Full Story 

Border agent in Clint accused of harassing mother of 12-year-old migrant who was in custody

by Abigail Hauslohner and Maria Sacchetti, The Washington Post

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent allegedly sought out and harassed an undocumented Guatemalan woman living in California. Full Story 

Houston congresswoman said undocumented immigrants could seek shelter in churches during announced ICE raids

by Lara Korte

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, gathered with faith leaders Saturday to announce they would offer their facilities as places of refuge for immigrants during the deportation raids set to happen this weekend. Full Story 

A judge ordered the end of migrant family separations last year. But a report says 30 kids remain in custody without their parents.

by Lara Korte

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform issued subpoenas earlier this year after the federal agencies overseeing immigration policy refused to provide information voluntarily. Full Story 

"The federal government has really dropped the ball": Texas lawmakers express concern about conditions for migrants in U.S. custody

by Lara Korte

Two Texas House committees met for hours to discuss the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. And some Democratic lawmakers said the state has a responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance. But what options they have remained unclear. Full Story 

As Texas seeks to overturn Obamacare, attention focuses on a potential swing judge

by Emma Platoff

Jennifer Walker Elrod, a federal appeals court judge appointed by George W. Bush, asked the majority of the questions in a two-hour session Tuesday on Texas' lawsuit. Full Story 

U.N. human rights chief "deeply shocked" by border processing center conditions in Texas

by Deanna Paul, The Washington Post

The high commissioner singled out the treatment of migrant children, saying she was “deeply shocked that children are forced to sleep on the floor in overcrowded facilities, without access to adequate healthcare or food, and with poor sanitation conditions.” Full Story