The arrest of an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. kicks off a complicated interplay between local and federal authorities. Use this flowchart to see the different steps in the process.
Criminal Justice
Get the latest Texas Tribune coverage on criminal justice, including crime, courts, law enforcement, and reforms shaping the state’s justice system.
Inmate Executed after 24 Years on Death Row
After 24 years on death row, a re-sentencing trial and an escape attempt, Gustavo Julian Garcia, 43, was executed Tuesday evening.
Federal Lawsuit Claims Excessive Force by Austin Police
One week after an Austin police officer shot and killed an unarmed, black 17-year-old, two San Antonio tourists filed a federal excessive force lawsuit against several Austin Police Department officers.
Rep. Ron Reynolds Fending Off Conviction, Challengers in Primary
He’s appealing a a five-count barratry conviction and facing a field of strong Democratic primary challengers, and yet state Rep. Ron Reynolds is surprisingly upbeat about his chances to keep his seat and his law license.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Found Dead in West Texas
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, was found dead of apparent natural causes Saturday morning at the Cibolo Creek Ranch resort near Marfa, a Presidio County official confirmed.
Commission Wants Restriction of Bite-Mark Evidence
The Texas Forensic Science Commission on Friday recommended that prosecutors temporarily stop using bite-mark evidence in criminal cases until questions are answered about its scientific validity.
Families Accuse Bank of Laundering Gang Money
The families of several U.S. citizens murdered in Mexico filed a lawsuit this week against HSBC Holdings and its subsidiaries alleging the company supported various drug cartel activities by laundering millions of dollars for gangs.
After Deportation, Killer Returned Easily to U.S.
Deported to his native Mexico for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, Juan Leonardo Quintero returned to Houston and easily resumed his life. When he killed a police officer in 2006, Quintero became a poster child for loose border enforcement.
Three Supreme Court Justices Face Challenges
In all three state Supreme Court seats up for election this year, Republican incumbents face primary challengers on March 1 – but that’s where the similarities end.
“Criminal Aliens” Flashpoint of Border Security Debate
How to deal with, or talk about, foreigners who commit crimes in the United States — the government’s term for them is the politically incorrect “criminal aliens” — has prompted heated calls for vastly different solutions.




