Five members of the U.S. House are lashing out at Gov. Rick Perry for what they say is his refusal to allocate more of the federal funding that moves through his office to the border. Perry claims his hands are tied and insists the congressmen need to check their math. While the back and forth continues, residents of the border fear for their lives.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Cattle, Catfish and Cartels
Nearly two months after border-area cattle inspection stations in Mexico ceased operations amid security concerns, the sites have reopened on the Texas side of the border. A popular South Texas lake, however, is now on the radar.
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Demographics
TribBlog: El Paso City Reps. Urge Changes in Drug Policy
City of El Paso representatives call for a change in drug policy, allege current laws are a failure.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Riddle vs. Martinez Fischer … Finally
The long-awaited debate over the Arizona immigration law between state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, and state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio — promised but never facilitated by CNN — took place today on Dallas radio station KRLD.
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TribBlog: MALDEF Challenges Ariz. Law
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has filed a lawsuit challenging Arizona’s controversial new immigration law.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Drone Finally Coming to Texas
An unmanned aerial drone will begin patrolling Texas’ border with Mexico next month.
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Visas for Victims
The federal government has more than tripled the number of visas granted to undocumented victims of such crimes as domestic violence and rape. The policy change is designed to aid prosecutors in securing witnesses and convictions, but some fear the incentive of legal status will spur false accusations.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Perry Releases Updated Security Plan
Gov. Rick Perry today released his updated homeland security plan, and border congressmen want to know why he’s not sending more federal security money to the border.
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TribBlog: Advocacy Groups Say ‘No’ to More Border Fence
More than 30 religious, immigration and environmental advocacy groups sent a letter to Democratic U.S. Senate leaders Thursday calling on them to oppose a Republican measure to build more fencing on the southern border.
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Demographics
TribBlog: An Immigration Reform Push After All
At tonight’s Rose Garden celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Barack Obama said he intended to begin work on “comprehensive immigration reform” this year, even though many administration observers predicted the issue was too controversial to tackle following the bloody battle over health care reform legislation.