The state’s top elected officials are happy to go on about border security, but they get tongue tied if the conversation turns to cracking down on employers of undocumented immigrants.
Demographics
Explore population trends, diversity, and data shaping Texas communities, politics, and policy.
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Bordering on Insecurity
In Texas, lawmakers don’t mess with employers of undocumented workers
For all their condemnations of illegal immigration, Texas lawmakers — Republican and Democratic — have shown little interest in cracking down on businesses that employ undocumented workers.
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Bordering on Insecurity
Legalizing marijuana might have negligible impact on border security
Supporters of legal marijuana say it would help ease problems with drug smuggling at the southern border, but experts say drug cartels would probably just switch to other products.
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Bordering on Insecurity
While people and drugs come north, guns pour south into Mexico
Often overlooked in border security debates is the river of guns and ammunition that flows from the United States — especially Texas — into Mexico, arming cartels and smugglers.
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Demographics
At A&M, protests, big crowds and tension over white nationalist’s speech
Richard Spencer’s speech at Texas A&M drew more than a thousand protesters. As he preached white nationalism, tension was high and police in riot gear tried to maintain calm.
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Criminal Justice
Immigration detention centers will continue operating despite judge’s ruling
Two immigration detention centers in Texas will continue their day-to-day operations despite a Travis County judge’s ruling last week that denied the facilities state licenses.
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Bordering on Insecurity
If we hire them, they will come: The demand side of border security
A fundamental truth underlies the nation’s collective failure to stop illegal immigration and smuggling over the southern border: The United States demands the cheap labor and drugs.
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Demographics
Feds: Tarrant County must begin providing election assistance in Vietnamese
Tarrant County joins a short list of Texas counties that must provide assistance in languages other than Spanish, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Monday.
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Demographics
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul draws critics in bid to run Homeland Security under Trump
Some hardline illegal immigration opponents are increasingly arguing U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul does not have a strong enough record on the issue to run the Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Donald Trump.
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Demographics
Cruz praises McCaul’s experience as Trump weighs Cabinet choices
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday praised the law enforcement experience of Michael McCaul, his fellow Texas Republican whom President-elect Donald Trump is considering for Homeland Security secretary.
