The state’s contentious sanctuary cities bill failed to move out of the Senate late Tuesday — a move some senators said effectively killed one of the most controversial measures the Texas Legislature has considered this session.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
Video: On Fox News, Perry Talks Border Security, Bashes Feds
Gov. Rick Perry appeared on Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta van Susteren” Tuesday night to discuss border security. Of course, he also took a few swipes at the federal government for not doing more to help curb illegal immigration.
On the Records: Mapping Migration to Texas
The U.S. Census Bureau released data this week showing how many people moved to and from Texas in the last year. California sent more people our way than any other state — and we lost the most Texans to Oklahoma.
Secure Communities Provision Added to House Bill
A portion of a multi-faceted homeland security bill that appeared near dead earlier was successfully attached tonight to a House bill relating to the deportation of illegal immigrants who have been incarcerated and released from prison.
With Clock Ticking, Immigration Bills in Limbo
A homeland security bill that was a major factor in whether the state’s sanctuary cities legislation — one of Gov. Rick Perry’s emergency items — would be signed into law failed to get placed on a House calendar for this week.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Root and Galbraith on a Dallas billionaire’s radioactive waste dump victory, Grissom on the passage of eyewitness ID reform, Hamilton on the old grudges bedeviling the debate over higher ed, Philpott on the status of congressional redistricting, Ramsey on Rick Perry’s un-campaign for president, Ramshaw on why medical schools are the scorned children of the state’s education budget, my session-wrap interview with three veteran Democrats, M. Smith on why Rob Eissler can’t pass mandate relief for school districts and Stiles on who’s giving what to which Texas candidates in 2011-12 congressional races: The best of our best content from May 16 to 20, 2011.
Sanctuary Cities Legislation Back on Track
Sanctuary cities legislation was revived today and will be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration. A Senate committee reversed course, approving the legislation.
TribLive: Three Veteran Democrats on the 82nd Session
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session.
TribLive: Ellis and Van de Putte on Sanctuary Cities
At last Thursday’s TribLive conversation, state Sens. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, explained why controversial sanctuary cities legislation may not make it out of the Texas Senate.
VIDEO: Ellis, Turner and Van de Putte at TribLive
At last Thursday’s TribLive conversation, I interviewed three veteran lawmakers — state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio — about how they and their Democratic colleagues fared this session.

