The police chief in the border city across the Rio Grande from Laredo was killed late Wednesday, less than five weeks after taking office.
Immigration
In-depth reporting on border issues, policies, communities, and the impact of immigration across the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Demographics
E-Verify Battle Could Soon Greet Texas Lawmakers
At least half a dozen bills have been filed in the Texas House mandating the use of the federal electronic employment verification system known as E-Verify. But is the system so fraught with errors that it actually hinders employers who use it to check the eligibility of new hires?
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Demographics
Undocumented Immigrant Population in Texas Increases
The number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. remained relatively unchanged in 2010, with a population of about 11.2 million. That’s about 3.7 percent of the country’s total population. Texas, however, was one of the few states that saw an increase over the last few years, according to a new study released by the Pew Hispanic Center.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Perry: Sanctuary Cities Stance Being Misinterpreted
Border lawmakers who oppose Gov. Rick Perry’s call to abolish “sanctuary cities” in Texas are misinterpreting his stance on the issue, according to his aides.
Posted in
Demographics
Red Meat, Fast Track
Abortion politics is back on center stage, with Gov. Rick Perry putting it, voter photo ID, state support for a balanced federal budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, eminent domain and a ban on sanctuary cities at the top of his list of priorities. Why?
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Demographics
TribBlog: El Paso Lawmakers Denounce Perry’s Request
Gov. Rick Perry’s request that lawmakers work to abolish “sanctuary cities” in Texas could potentially increase crime in spots across the border from Mexico, according to lawmakers who met in El Paso today to denounce the governor’s request.
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Demographics
TribBlog: DPS: No, Really, Don’t Go to Mexico
In case you were planning any trips to violence-ridden Mexico, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety says don’t — again.
Posted in
Demographics
Controversial? Just Wait
The voter ID legislation passed by the Texas Senate on Wednesday night may be controversial, but it’s a familiar debate, as is the issue of “sanctuary cities.” Less well known but no less controversial are many of the provisions found in more than three dozen immigration-related bills filed so far. Some Hispanic Republicans in the Texas House say they are not going to support bills they believe are too extreme.
Posted in
State Government
Voter ID Passes: The Highlights
Watch our abbreviated version of the daylong Senate debate, the dismissal of three dozen amendments and the ultimate passage of Senate Bill 14, a.k.a. the voter ID bill. The measure’s now headed to the House.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
The Trib staff on the sweeping cuts in the proposed House budget, Grissom on what’s lost and not found at the Department of Public Safety, Galbraith on the wind power conundrum, Hamilton on higher ed’s pessimistic budget outlook, Stiles and Swicegood debut an incredibly useful bill tracker app, Ramsey interviews Rick Perry on the cusp of his second decade as governor, Aguilar on a Mexican journalist’s quest for asylum in the U.S., Ramshaw on life expectancy along the border, M. Smith on the obstacles school districts face in laying off teachers and yours truly talks gambling and the Rainy Day Fund with state Rep. Jim Pitts: The best of our best from January 17 to 21, 2011.