College campuses always seem to attract controversy, but in 2015 Texas universities seemed to have more than their normal share.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawsuits, Big Dollars on the Border Top 2015 Immigration Headlines
If non-Texans were still unsure how much the state’s Republican lawmakers oppose President Obama’s immigration and border security policies, 2015 likely cleared that up.
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Demographics
Rep. Filemon Vela Lends Aide to Gene Green’s Re-election Campaign
A top operative for U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela is headed for U.S. Rep. Gene Green’s already heated re-election campaign against challenger — and failed Houston mayoral candidate — Adrian Garcia.
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Demographics
Ted Cruz Jettisons Compromise on Immigration
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz sounds a lot like billionaire businessman Donald Trump these days when it comes to illegal immigration. But his deport-now-ask-questions-later approach represents a stark change from what he advocated in 2013.
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Criminal Justice
State Explores Flexing Muscles on Immigration
Crafted carefully, state laws can be written that would allow Texas to crack down on undocumented immigrants and illegal border crossers without running afoul of the U.S. Constitution, a state attorney told lawmakers recently.
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Demographics
DPS Chief: Refugee Concerns Extend Beyond Syrians in Texas
Despite Texas Republicans’ laser focus on keeping Syrian refugees from being resettled here, the head of the state’s Department of Public Safety says he’d prefer a wider lens that focuses on all countries connected to “Islamic extremist terrorism.”
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Criminal Justice
Abbott Orders National Guard to Stay in Place on Border
Because of a recent spike in minors crossing the border illegally in the Rio Grande Valley, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he is ordering the Texas National Guard to stay in the area through December.
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Demographics
If UT-Austin Loses Case, It Could Face Another Top 10 Percent “Crisis”
Lost in the debate over the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case is this: For UT-Austin, more than racial preferences in admissions are at stake. If the university loses, the entire way it selects its incoming freshman class could be at risk.
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Demographics
Roundup: Refugees, Visa Waivers, Supreme Court
In this special edition of the Political Roundup: Texas lawmakers introduce and advance legislation in Washington to create new curbs on Syrian refugees entering the country. And the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two Texas cases.
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Criminal Justice
Jail Practices, Fingerprints Focus of House Immigration Hearing
The Dallas County Sheriff fired back at what she called inaccurate rumors on her immigration policies during an interim House committee hearing Thursday. Lawmakers also heard about an ill-conceived law that is hindering the state’s identification of criminals.
