demographics

E-Verify Bill One Step Closer to Abbott's Desk

By Julián Aguilar May 25, 2015

The Texas House on Monday gave tentative approval to a bill that would require state agencies and public universities to use the federal electronic employment system called E-Verify. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
See How Each Texas City Grew From 2010 to 2014

By Alexa Ura and Jolie McCullough May 21, 2015

Texas suburbs continue to dominate as the fastest-growing areas of the state, according to new population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Full Story

Credit: Justyna Furmanczyk
Texas Secretary of State Eschews Politics, Looks South Instead

By Julián Aguilar May 21, 2015

Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos hopes his tenure represents a shifting tide in the office — away from partisan gridlock over voting, and toward bolstering Texas' relations with Mexico and improving life along the state's southern border. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Lawmakers One Step Closer on Border Security

By Julián Aguilar May 19, 2015

A major piece of border security legislation cleared another hurdle in the Texas Legislature on Tuesday, prompting lawmakers to predict that a compromise between the House and Senate will be hashed out before the session ends June 1. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
With Clock Running, Immigration Bills Cling to Senate Calendar

By Julián Aguilar May 19, 2015

After idling in the Senate, two controversial immigration bills — ending in-state tuition for some undocumented immigrants and barring sanctuary cities — are apparently back in play. But it remains unclear whether sponsors have the votes to bring the measures up for debate. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Texas House, Senate Make Progress on Border Security Legislation

By Julián Aguilar May 14, 2015

The House and Senate are close to coming together on another thorny subject that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a priority this session. But this issue doesn't involve tax cuts. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Latin American, Asian Figures Diverge in Texas Immigration Report

By Alexa Ura and Annie Daniel May 14, 2015

Though people born in Latin American countries continue to make up the largest group of immigrants to Texas, their state numbers are decreasing while the rate of migration by Asian immigrants into Texas is rising sharply. Full Story

Credit: Eddie Seal
Texas Lawmakers Consider E-Verify Mandate for Agencies

By Julián Aguilar May 14, 2015

A controversial immigration-enforcement bill similar to an executive order issued by former Gov. Rick Perry in December is moving forward in the Texas Legislature. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Lawmaker "Encouraged" After Meeting With DPS Director

By Julián Aguilar May 13, 2015

The state's public safety director says if lawmakers let him, he'll provide Rep. César Blanco with data on security operations on the border. The move follows weeks of tense exchanges over how border security dollars are being spent. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Protesters Want Family Immigration Detention Center Shut Down

By Ryan McCrimmon May 2, 2015

On the side of a dusty highway about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio on Saturday, more than 500 protesters gathered in front of the largest immigration detention center in the U.S. and chanted "shut it down." Full Story

Credit: Ryan McCrimmon/The Texas Tribune
Video: Castro on Baltimore

By Evan Smith May 1, 2015

At our 5/1 conversation, Julián Castro, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, talked about the lessons of Baltimore — and how to prevent the next Baltimore. Full Story
Video: Turner on Baltimore

By Evan Smith April 30, 2015

At our 4/30 conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor, talked about the events this week in Baltimore — and the takeaways for other big cities. Full Story
Chambers Not Too Far Apart on Border Security

By Julián Aguilar April 29, 2015

Despite appearances, the House and Senate aren't too far apart on border security funding, says the lone border lawmaker on the budget conference committee. One sticking point is funding for state trooper pay. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Judge: Why Didn't State Lawmakers Address Voter ID Concerns?

By Jim Malewitz April 28, 2015

A Republican-appointed federal appellate judge on Tuesday questioned why the Texas Legislature had not addressed concerns that its four-year-old voter ID law discriminated against minority voters. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
A Look at How House, Senate Budgets Compare

By Aman Batheja and Becca Aaronson April 24, 2015

This week, the House and the Senate named the members of a conference committee that will resolve the differences between the two chambers' budget plans. Here’s a look at how the two proposals compare, with details on some areas where the plans diverge. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht and Todd Wiseman
Bonnen: Patrick "Playing Games" With Border Security

By Julián Aguilar April 21, 2015

A key member of the Texas House’s Republican leadership blasted Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a Washington-style politician a day after the Texas Senate passed its version of a sweeping border security bill. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Senate Sends Border Security Measure to House

By Julián Aguilar April 20, 2015

The Texas Senate on Monday passed its own sweeping border security bill, choosing to send its own version to the House rather than taking up the House’s measure, which the lower chamber passed last month. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
Integrity Unit Won't Resume Inquiry Into DPS Contracts

By Ryan McCrimmon April 20, 2015

Responding to a request by the Texas Department of Public Safety to renew an investigation into the department’s border security contracts, the head of the state’s anti-corruption unit said Monday that it was not equipped to continue the investigation. Full Story

Credit: Julián Aguilar
Video: Seliger and Zerwas on In-State Tuition

By Evan Smith April 16, 2015

At our 4/16 conversation, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond — the chairmen, respectively, of the Senate and House Higher Education committees — talked about the controversial law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities. Full Story
Interactive: Where Undocumented Students Pay In-State Tuition

By Alexa Ura and Jolie McCullough April 16, 2015

Just 2 percent of students enrolled in an institution of higher education in Texas are undocumented and pay in-state tuition — and most of them attend community college. Check out these students' enrollment by campus. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato