Freshman state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, has been held up by some Republicans as a symbol of the party’s growing popularity with Hispanics. He says he is only motivated by the issues facing his constituents.
Immigration
In-depth reporting on border issues, policies, communities, and the impact of immigration across the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Demographics
TribLive: Patterson on Immigration Reform
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson discussed the GOP’s challenge in attracting Latino voters and his support for a guest worker program.
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Demographics
Legislature Considers Softer Line on Immigration
Two years after legislation to ban “sanctuary cities” was made a top priority, immigration legislation is barely discussed at the state Capitol. It’s put some lawmakers in a weird spot — especially when some of their own recently came out in support of what’s a no-no in politics — amnesty.
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Demographics
Norquist Wants to “Unite Center Right” on Immigration
Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist said Wednesday that Republicans are not the anti-immigrant party, and that a few loud “bullfrogs” have created “a completely bizarre view of where the modern conservative movement is” on immigration reform.
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Demographics
Updated: House Resolution to Test Support for Immigration Reform
Democratic Texas House members on Wednesday filed an immigration resolution that could serve as a litmus test for Republican support for reforms being suggested at the national level.
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Criminal Justice
Todd Staples: The TT Interview
The Texas agriculture commissioner on his book and campaign to highlight what he sees as a crisis on the border, his opinions on which immigration policies work and which don’t, and why Americans shouldn’t believe it when they are told the border is secure.
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Demographics
The Polling Center: Cruz Beats Drum on Immigration
If Ted Cruz seems to be marching out of step with GOP leaders attempting to lower the volume on the party’s immigration rhetoric, results from the last UT/Texas Tribune poll suggest the drumbeat he’s listening to is the one being played by his voters.
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Demographics
El Paso Again Tops List of Safest U.S. Cities
El Paso again ranks as the safest city of its size, according to a report released the same day that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited the border city.
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Demographics
Lege Could Ban Drones Over Private Property
State Rep. Lance Gooden says he will carry legislation to make it illegal to use a drone to capture video or photographs of private property without the consent of the property’s owner or occupant.
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Criminal Justice
Apprehensions, Narcotics Seizures Increase at Border
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized about 1.7 million pounds of narcotics in Texas in fiscal 2012, about 270,000 pounds more than their counterparts in Arizona, New Mexico and California combined.