Hundreds attend vigil for refugees at Austin church
Hundreds of people packed the First English Lutheran Church in Austin on Monday evening as part of an interfaith vigil in support of refugees. Full Story
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![In reaction to the travel ban implemented by President Trump over the weekend, the First English Lutheran church in Austin held a vigil for refugees on Jan. 30, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Hope turns to heartache for Texas volunteers looking to help refugees
President Trump’s executive order restricting travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries and halting refugee admissions left many refugee resettlement agencies wondering what was left of their mission. But they were undeterred. Full Story
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![A group gathered at Wooldridge Park in Austin on Nov. 22, 2015, to protest Gov. Greg Abbott's decision not to accept refugees from Syria.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas congressional delegation largely silent on Trump travel ban
Most members of the Texas congressional delegation remained silent about President Trump's travel ban over the weekend, but one Republican challenged the ban and another — Michael McCaul of Austin — said his input on the order did not include a ban on Muslims. Full Story
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![A protester holds a sign at D/FW airport Saturday.]()
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Two sharply different portrayals of Border Patrol agent at murder trial
Devoted public servant who protected the nation’s borders and erred only by helping out his family? Or leader of a drug- and gun-trafficking enterprise? Those were the two portraits that emerged of Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna at his two-week murder trial. Now, a jury will decide his fate as early as Monday. Full Story
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![Defense attorney Carlos Garcia (r.) confers with former Border Patrol agent Joel Luna.]()
Credit: Douglas Young for The Texas Tribune -
Trump's latest executive order blocks settlement of thousands of refugees to Texas
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to indefinitely ban Syrian refugees from entering the country and pause all refugee admissions for 120 days — a move that could keep thousands of refugees from being resettled in Texas. Full Story
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![A child walks in a United Nations refugee camp in Turkey where thousands of Syrian refugees reside.]()
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Jury to decide Border Patrol agent's fate
The fate of Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna and his Mexican-born brother Eduardo, both charged with drug trafficking and the murder of a would-be snitch, is set to fall to a Cameron County jury Friday after almost two weeks of testimony and sparring over evidence. Full Story
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![Chief Prosecutor Gus Garza walks by a safe brought into the courtroom as evidence during the murder trial of former Border Patrol agent Joel Luna and his brother Eduardo Luna Rodriguez.]()
Credit: Douglas Young for The Texas Tribune -
Amid "sanctuary" standoff, Abbott asks agencies to list Travis County funding
Gov. Greg Abbott's office is asking state agencies to take stock of their funds to Travis County as he further escalates his standoff with the county's sheriff, Sally Hernandez, over her new "sanctuary" policy. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
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Travis County Sheriff not backing down on sanctuary policy
Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez indicated Thursday she is not backing away from her recently introduced "sanctuary" policy. Full Story
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![Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento -
Trump signs orders to build border wall and boost detention space
The White House announced Wednesday that in addition to moving to build a barrier on the southern border, it will act to build more detention space for undocumented immigrants in the area. Full Story
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![Now-President Donald Trump is shown on Jan. 28, 2016, speaking to a group of veterans at Drake University during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
While bracing for action from Trump, Democrats also vow to fight state bills on sanctuary cities
Texas House and Senate Democrats said Wednesday they’d keep fighting efforts by state Republicans to crack down on cities viewed as sanctuary cities even as a related executive order from President Trump was expected later in the day. Full Story
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![Group gathered from all around Texas and marched to the Governor's Mansion to show their support fro DACA and DAPA]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas dispute with feds leaves coastal community in housing limbo
More than a year after Texas and the federal government settled a civil rights complaint from residents of the Corpus Christi neighborhood of Hillcrest, both sides are at an impasse, potentially leaving hundreds in the lurch. Full Story
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![A refinery at the end of a residential street in Corpus Christi's Hillcrest neighborhood on January 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribune -
Reports: Trump to announce plans for border wall on Wednesday
Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday evening that President Trump on Wednesday will announce his administration is moving forward with the construction of his promised wall on the southern U.S. border. Full Story
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Brownsville jurors shown cash and safe as Border Patrol agent's murder trial continues
Hoping to bolster their murder case against Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna, prosecutors showed jurors a safe they say he used to store $90,000 in smuggled money. Full Story
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![Chief Prosecutor Gus Garza examines a safe and cash seized from Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna's mother-in-law's home during Luna's trial for murder on Jan. 20, 2017, in Brownsville.]()
Credit: Doug Young -
Travis County sheriff announces new "sanctuary" policy
A Friday announcement by newly-elected Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez that her office would reduce cooperation with federal immigration authorities will set up a showdown with Texas Republican leaders, especially Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
![Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento -
Border Patrol agent tied to smuggled money but not to slaying in day 3 of trial
Joel Luna, the Border Patrol agent on trial for capital murder in Brownsville, was linked to hundreds of thousands of dollars in smuggled money by the prosecution's star witness — Luna's older brother Eduardo. Full Story
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![Border Patrol agent Joel Luna (seated) and lead defense attorney Carlos Garcia on the first day of Luna's trial in the slaying of Franky Palacios on Jan. 17, 2017.]()
Credit: Douglas Young -
Texas lawmaker sends letter to "Islamic Leaders" surveying their beliefs
Freshman state Rep. Kyle Biedermann sent a letter to mosque leaders and Muslim student associations in order to poll them about their beliefs ahead of Texas Muslim Capitol Day. Full Story
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![September 15, 2016 Conversation event Kyle Biedermann R-New Braunfels]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lawmakers likely to wage in-state tuition policy fight again this year
Will Texas legislators repeal in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants? One Republican lawmaker is determined to make it happen. Full Story
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![Former and current lawmakers gather at the Texas Capitol showing their support for HB 1403 which passed in 2001 ensuring that all Texas would have access to in-state college tuition regardless of immigration status.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Sobbing brother testifies in Border Patrol agent's murder trial
The star witness against a Border Patrol agent accused of murder — his own brother — gave tearful testimony in a Brownsville courtroom Wednesday. Full Story
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![Lead defense attorney Carlos Garcia assists defendant Joel Luna in putting on a tie prior to Luna's murder trial in Brownsville on January 17, 2017.]()
Credit: Douglas Young -
Sparring over evidence marks first day of Border Patrol agent's trial
A state judge ruled that a statement Border Patrol Agent Joel Luna voluntarily gave authorities can be used in his murder trial. Sparring over evidence marked the first day of his trial in South Texas, in a case that has stoked concern about alleged law enforcement corruption on the U.S. side of the border. Full Story
![Lead defense attorney Carlos Garcia assists defendant Joel Luna in putting on a tie prior to Luna's murder trial in Brownsville on January 17, 2017.]()
Credit: Douglas Young -
Could demographic shifts turn Tarrant County blue? (audio)
A suburban Tea Party in Tarrant County sees itself as essential to keeping the state red. And some Republican officials do, too. But the GOP may have to confront demographic changes for that to hold true. Full Story
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![Northeast Tarrant Tea Party President Julie McCarty kicks off the political group's first monthly meeting of 2017 in at a community center in North Richland Hills. The organization is a powerhouse in Texas politics.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby