If lawmakers do not act to address the immigration crisis on Texas’ southern border before their August break, smugglers will get the message that the government does not take the crisis seriously, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar says.
Criminal Justice
Get the latest Texas Tribune coverage on criminal justice, including crime, courts, law enforcement, and reforms shaping the state’s justice system.
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Criminal Justice
Border Surge Prompts Perry to Scale Back Governors Conference
Gov. Rick Perry’s office said on Tuesday that because of the surge of illegal immigration on the southern border, a planned binational border governors conference will be scaled back to only a dinner with the elected officials.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Cities Pushing Back on Border Surge
A handful of Texas communities have passed resolutions barring immigrants from being housed there on an emergency basis.
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Criminal Justice
Sheriffs Consider Selling E-Cigarettes at Jails
In Texas, very few jails allow electronic cigarettes, but some say that could change as sheriffs begin to warm up to the smokeless technology as a way to supplement revenue and help inmates suffering from withdrawal.
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Criminal Justice
Lost in a Pressing Crisis at the Border: Perpetual Immigration Issues
As attention centers on the thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the Texas-Mexico border, activists in the Rio Grande Valley are working hard to ensure that their ongoing campaigns continue to gain traction after the current crisis subsides.
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Criminal Justice
Cruz Files Alternative Border Bill
UPDATED: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz filed a bill Thursday that he says would immediately halt the flow of unaccompanied Central American children who are now crossing into the United States.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott Stands By Transparency Record Some Say is Mixed
Ask Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Greg Abbott about his record on government transparency and he will tell you it is one worth bragging about. Open government advocates say his record is more varied.
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Criminal Justice
Judge’s Ruling Goes Against Death Row Inmate Skinner
A district court judge ruled against death row inmate Hank Skinner on Tuesday in the wake of new DNA testing, saying it was “reasonably probable” he would still have been convicted had the evidence been available at trial.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Democrats Divided Over Bill Targeting Border Crisis
Proposed legislation to address the surge of unaccompanied Central American children crossing into the U.S. is dividing Texas’ border lawmakers.
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Criminal Justice
Women Want State’s Help in Pelvic Mesh Fight
While thousands of women across the country are engaged in lawsuits against manufacturers of pelvic mesh implants, a Texas group is trying to get the state to take action against a company that makes the medical devices.
