A decision by the White House to reduce the number of National Guard soldiers on the country’s border with Mexico has provoked a fierce but expected reaction from Gov. Rick Perry, a longtime advocate for more boots on the ground in Texas.
Immigration
In-depth reporting on border issues, policies, communities, and the impact of immigration across the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Report Raises Doubts About Obama-Backed Visa Program
The expansion of a program that would allow some foreigners to enter the U.S. without a visa has strong support from the White House. But as Hernán Rozemberg of Fronteras reports, a federal report has raised concerns about how the program will impact the government’s ability to manage the system.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Root on Rick Perry’s controversial new ad, Tan on the fallout, Aaronson’s map of where the food stamps go, my interview with Stephen Colbert’s campaign finance lawyer, Aguilar on the drop in the number of illegal immigrants crossing into Texas, Hamilton on the growth of unregulated colleges, Galbraith’s interview with S. David Freeman on the environmental failures of public power, Grissom on the newest state agency and and Hamilton and M. Smith on a sudden change at the top of UT’s law school: The best of our best content from December 5 to 9, 2011.
Illegal Crossings Fall as Border Rhetoric Soars
A sour economy, increased border law enforcement and skyrocketing smuggling fees are keeping more would-be crossers at home. But you wouldn’t know it from the presidential campaigns.
Weekend Insider: Immigration and Politics, Second Chance Candidates
In this episode of Weekend Insider, Tribune reporter Julian Aguilar discusses immigration and politics, and executive editor Ross Ramsey discusses talks about candidates looking to voters for a second chance.
Inside Intelligence: About That Football Game…
For this week’s nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked what issues might surface in the party primaries, whether the Voting Right Act is still necessary — and if the state should mandate a Longhorn-Aggie game on Thanksgiving.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson maps the growth of poverty in Texas, Aguilar on the suicide of an illegal immigrant, Galbraith on the prospect of more rolling blackouts, Grissom on a prosecutor’s memory lapse, Hamilton on the prospect of public universities undergoing a sunset review, Murphy’s latest awesome redistricting interactive, Ramsey on a stumbling start to the 2012 election season, Root on Rick Perry’s latest populist tirade, M. Smith on the boom in for-profit teacher certification programs and Tan on the fight against cervical cancer in … Africa: The best of our best content from November 28 to December 2, 2011.
Child Abuse Reports Up as Economy Falters
Experts speculate that a key factor in the increase in reports of child abuse and neglect is the struggling economy. The number of reported cases of abuse has grown 6 percent in Texas since 2008, before the recession.
In the Meantime
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released more interim charges he wants Senate committees to consider before the upper chamber gavels in January 2013. And it should be a surprise to few that there’s a sustained focus on the Texas-Mexico border.
Dewhurst Releases Interim Charges on Border Security, Trafficking
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released a list today of border security-related issues he wants Senate committees to consider in advance of the 2013 legislative session.

