The latest demographics news from The Texas Tribune.
Contrary to popular belief, many illegal immigrants in the U.S. pay federal taxes — through what's called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN. But new tax rules effective this month mean some changes for taxpayers using those numbers. Full Story
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Reform advocates are hoping for comprehensive changes to immigration policies, as President Obama has promised, but short of that, there are still plenty of ways to fix existing policies and arcane laws, they say. Full Story
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Officials on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border have reported a decrease in holiday season tourism, likely due to the persistent threat of Mexican drug violence. But Mexico's new president hopes to do something about that. Full Story
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A new report estimates that the federal government spent $18 billion on immigration enforcement efforts in fiscal year 2012, about 24 percent more than it spent on all major law enforcement agencies combined. Full Story
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A former U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent says that a new security policy announced in Mexico signals a growing focus on sovereignty and a shift from some initiatives considered priorities by the United States. Full Story
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New President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico recently announced a plan targeting violence in the country. As the country and analysts wait to see results, some aren’t placing bets that the situation will improve soon. Full Story
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Mexican immigrants are apprehended every day on the Texas-Mexico border. But as Jerry Patterson, the Texas land commissioner, likes to remind fellow Republicans, the shoe used to be on the other foot. Full Story
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Weeks after Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's inauguration, a group of activists in Texas is organizing a new effort they say will serve as a watchdog to monitor Mexico's treatment of its citizens. Full Story
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Plans for a coal mine in Eagle Pass took a step forward last month and could get final approval in January. But opponents of the proposal, who say the project raises serious health concerns, say they haven't given up the fight. Full Story
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Twenty years after NAFTA was enacted, stakeholders met in Texas to discuss its future. A who's who of business leaders touted NAFTA's success. But critics say the pact created an unbalanced economy and displaced workers. Full Story
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At a conference in Dallas, former President George W. Bush urged the nation’s leaders to debate immigration reform with compassion and kindness. Full Story
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A day after U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison introduced immigration legislation that would give legal status to some undocumented minors, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus laid out its own goals for reform. Full Story
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At our Hot Seat conversation at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, and U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, talked state and national politics and previewed both the 83rd session and the 113th Congress. Full Story
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Outgoing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on Tuesday introduced a bill that would provide legal status for immigrants brought to the country illegally as minors. She made clear that the proposal does not guarantee citizenship. Full Story
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Days before taking office as the next president of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto will visit the White House on Tuesday to take part in a discussion likely to focus on trade, the economy and transnational violence. Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about issues important to conservatives and to Hispanics, and about whether Texas Republicans have a good shot at a majority of Hispanic voters in the near future. Full Story
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Two years ago, Republican legislators pre-filed several immigration-enforcement bills at their earliest opportunity. But weeks after lawmakers were allowed to pre-file bills this year, only a handful have been submitted. Full Story
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Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. said Thursday that a new initiative would let certain Mexican cargo trucks bound for America be inspected south of the border and be allowed to circumvent lines at U.S. ports of entry. Full Story
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Reports by Detention Watch Network claim two privately run immigrant detention facilities in Texas are among the 10 worst in the country for human rights violations. Immigration officials say they are looking into the allegations. Full Story
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The director of the American Immigration Council’s Immigration Policy Center on what happens with immigration reform after the election and what the economic gain will be if reform is passed. Full Story
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