UPDATED: Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst sent the president a letter demanding repayment for the more than $156.6 million that Texas counties have spent since 2011 on jailing undocumented immigrants with federal detainers.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Cornyn Has “Grave Concerns” About DHS Nominee
UPDATED: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says President Obama’s choice to succeed former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano lacks the experience to head the agency.
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Demographics
With Shutdown Over, Immigration Reform Advocates Step Up Efforts
After President Obama on Thursday said that Congress can now focus on tackling immigration reform after ending the federal shutdown, advocates called on Congress to fix the system before the end of the year.
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Demographics
Majority of Texas Fast-Food Workers on Public Assistance Programs
A study released Tuesday reports that more than half of front-line fast-food workers in Texas and nationally rely on public assistance programs, a statistic one of the study’s authors called “shocking.”
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice, Demographics, Immigration
Interactive: The Cost of Jailing Undocumented Immigrants in Texas
A state law passed in 2011 requires Texas jails to report monthly estimates of the cost to house undocumented immigrants. This interactive table shows the total number of immigrants housed and the cost to each county from October 2011 to September 2013.
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Demographics
Advocates Target Latinos for ACA Enrollment
Advocates are developing community-based strategies to ensure that Latinos understand the insurance options available through the Affordable Care Act.
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Demographics
Abbott Urges Reform, Not Repeal, of DREAM Act
While other Republicans make noise about repealing the law that lets young undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition rates, the front-running GOP candidate for governor has been silent on the issue. Aides say he wants to reform the law — not repeal it.
Posted in
Demographics
Polling Center: Clear Demographics, Unclear Politics
Sages in both political parties say they are the natural ideological allies of the rising Hispanic population in Texas. But while the demographic trends are undeniable, the political meaning behind them is cloudy.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Mexican Exiles Speak Out Against Claims They’re Gaming Asylum System
As lawmakers in Washington call for a review of how asylum law pertains to Mexicans seeking protection, one Mexican exile is embarking on his own public relations campaign.
Posted in
Demographics
Revisiting Immigration Study a Popular Idea in Comptroller’s Race
The state of Texas last performed a study on the economic impact of undocumented immigrants in 2006. The majority of the candidates running for comptroller in 2014 say it’s time for that analysis to get an update.
