immigration

Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa: The TT Interview

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 18, 2011

The state senator from McAllen sat down with the Tribune to talk border security, how Democrats move forward after voter ID and what he thinks the upper chamber will look like in 2013. Full Story

Credit: Julian Aguilar
The Border is Safe, Federal Officials Say

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 17, 2011

The federal government’s top border official fought back this week against heightened criticism of President Obama’s border security policy, while U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes said Rick Perry's bid for the White House made him want to "throw up." Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge
31 Days, 31 Ways: Driver's License Policy Becomes Law

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 12, 2011

DAY 12 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: applicants for driver's licenses and IDs must furnish proof of legal status. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
On the Border, Selling the High Price of Security

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 11, 2011

It's not a sales pitch heard too often in the Rio Grande Valley, but farmers and ranchers here have a new, tax-deductible option for improving their businesses — and the company offering it promises to take a bullet for its client. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Matthew High
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Evan Smith Aug. 6, 2011

Aguilar on the denial of asylum petitions by border judges, Galbraith on the history of wind, Grissom talks to the head of the Jail Standards Commission, Hamilton on plans for the state's new online university, Murphy and Ramsey on political warchests at midyear, Philpott on Texas' trucker shortage, Ramsey talks data privacy and abortion with Susan Combs, Ramshaw on the Rick Perry's experimental adult stem cell procedure, Root on the response to The Response, M. Smith on the country's could-be next first lady and Tan on a few of the ways Texas will change on Sept. 1: The best of our best content from Aug. 1 to 5, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva
Feds: Secure Communities Not Optional

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 5, 2011

The federal government on Friday announced it was rescinding memorandums of agreement with 39 states, including Texas, that participate in the Secure Communities program. The decision does not end the controversial policy, though. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva
Too Tough, But Not for Long

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 4, 2011

An Austin judge ruled this week that the Texas Department of Public Safety overstepped its authority when it enacted tougher requirements for immigrants trying to obtain driver's licenses, giving immigrants' rights groups and some business leaders a glimmer of hope. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson
On the Records: 3 Ways to Visualize Houston Demography

by Becca Aaronson Aug. 3, 2011

To help visualize demographic changes from 2000 to 2010, the Center for Urban Research at the City University of New York updated its interactive maps of Houston and other major U.S. cities today. Full Story
Updated: Senate Confirms New Ambassador to Mexico

by Julián Aguilar Aug. 3, 2011

The U.S. Senate has unanimously confirmed Deputy Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne’s nomination. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Guest Column: Tea Party vs. GOP on Immigration

by Jim Henson Aug. 1, 2011

It's not that Tea Party self-identifiers have different positions on immigration than regular old Republicans. They just feel more strongly about it. Full Story

Credit: Julian Aguilar
Study: Border Judges Deny Most Political Asylum Petitions

by Julián Aguilar July 31, 2011

A new analysis of the decisions of U.S. immigration court judges finds that at least two of the five immigration judges in El Paso have a far higher denial rate than the national average. What accounts for the disparity is a matter of debate. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Ross Ramsey July 30, 2011

Aaronson examines the Texas jobs "miracle," Root on how Rick Perry built his financial portfolio, Tan and Wiseman on Perry vs. Ron Paul, Philpott on how budget cuts will affect a mental health provider, yours truly on a House freshman who was less than impressed with his first legislative experience, M. Smith on public schools charging for things that used to be free, Hamilton on a new call to reinvent higher education, Grissom on a rare stay of execution, Galbraith on the end of a Panhandle wind program, Aguilar on the increase of legal immigration into the U.S. and Texas: The best of our best content from July 25 to 29, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Legal Immigration Increases in Texas, U.S.

by Julián Aguilar July 28, 2011

If current trends continue, the federal government will approve nearly 18,000 more applications for citizenship this year than it did in 2010, according to data recently posted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 90

by Todd Wiseman July 28, 2011

In this week's TribCast, Ross, Morgan, Jim and Ben discuss the more moderate State Board of Education and how the failure of "sanctuary cities" legislation could affect a Perry presidential bid. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Guest Column: Immigration, Perry and a Divided GOP

by Jim Henson July 27, 2011

Whatever Gov. Rick Perry's place in the party and his political future, immigration politics are built into the coalition of interests in the Texas GOP. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
As Mexico Boasts of Security Gains, Analysts Say Expect More Violence

by Julián Aguilar July 26, 2011

A prediction that one of the most notorious cartels operating on the Texas-Mexico border could soon meet its demise was premature, according to a new report on Mexican cartels, which now predicts violence will continue. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Courtesy, STRATFOR
Obama on Immigration Reform: "I Need a Dance Partner"

by Julián Aguilar July 25, 2011

President Obama today blamed Republicans for his administration’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform, saying several conservative lawmakers who once supported the measure have buckled under political pressure. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Ross Ramsey July 23, 2011

Ramshaw on the lioness of the Texas House, Dehn and Tan review 20 years of Rick Perry's political ads, Murphy's latest database includes the governor's political accounts over the last decade, Aaronson's visualizations of what was said in the biggest legislative debates, M. Smith on the woman in the middle chair at the State Board of Education, Galbraith on how the drought is forcing ranchers to sell their herds, Grissom has the story on a cattle rustler who's asking the courts to give him an old-fashioned sentence, Hamilton covers Rick O'Donnell's latest salvo at higher education, Aguilar on whether and how the sanctuary cities issue will translate at the ballot box next year, yours truly on Ron Paul's candidacy and the candidate in his own words: The best of our best from July 18 to 22, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Texas Democrats Attack Lamar Smith Over HALT Act

by Julián Aguilar July 21, 2011

Republican U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith’s attempt to strip the Obama administration of its immigration enforcement powers has drawn a harsh rebuke from Texas Democrats in the U.S. House. Full Story

Credit: Edmond Meinfelder
Visualizing Days of Lege Debate: Immigration

by Becca Aaronson July 21, 2011

The controversial “sanctuary cities” bill failed to pass, but other immigration-related bills advanced and were signed by the governor. Explore this interactive to pinpoint the days lawmakers debated issues related to immigration. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Becca Aaronson / Todd Wiseman