A day after state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, came under fire for instructing staff to ask Muslim visitors to her office to pledge their allegiance to the U.S., Gov. Greg Abbott called for civil discussions “so that everyone has the opportunity to weigh in on their beliefs.”
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
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Demographics
Rep. White to Staff: Ask Muslim Visitors to Pledge Allegiance to U.S.
UPDATED: A Muslim group at the Capitol has asked Speaker Joe Straus whether state Rep. Molly White violated ethics rules by instructing her staff to ask Muslim visitors to her office to declare their allegiance to the U.S.
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Demographics
Interactive: Demographics of Texas’ Undocumented Population
Use these interactives to explore the demographics of Texas’ undocumented population. You can also see demographic breakdowns in the Texas counties with the largest undocumented populations.
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Criminal Justice
McCaul Plan Would Fund Guard, Aid Border Patrol
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is pushing new border security legislation that would make it easier for Border Patrol agents to operate on protected lands, and fund continued National Guard presence.
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Demographics
Anchia Goes on Offense, Moves to Reaffirm Dream Act
Facing legislative efforts to overturn the Texas Dream Act and new state leaders who are open to its repeal, state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, filed a resolution Thursday to reaffirm support for the act.
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Criminal Justice
Judge Hears Arguments in Immigration Policy Case
UPDATED: A judge heard arguments Thursday on a request to halt a White House immigration policy that could affect hundreds of thousands of Texans living in the country illegally. The judge did not indicate when he would make a ruling.
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Demographics
Dream Act Supporters Rally Against Efforts to Repeal Law
During a rally at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, supporters of the Texas Dream Act said they were ready to challenge any efforts this legislative session to repeal the 2001 law.
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Criminal Justice
Video: New House Members on Immigration
At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about border security, in-state tuition and other immigration-related topics.
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Criminal Justice
Attempts to Dupe Immigration Agents Rise
Instead of trusting human smugglers or risking clandestine border crossings, an increasing number of people trying to enter the U.S. illegally are taking a more brazen approach. They try to slip through legal entry points using fake papers, or documents that belong to someone else.
Posted inDemographics, Immigration, State Government
Compassion, Tempered by a Broken System
Gov. Rick Perry has been outspoken in his frustration with the immigration system, Julián Aguilar writes. Perry says the system puts state lawmakers on the spot in deciding how to help Texans brought to the country illegally as children through no fault of their own.
