A commissioner’s court resolution supporting Arizona’s controversial immigration law has split rural Hudspeth County in far West Texas, whose 3,000 residents are largely Hispanic. Commissioner Jim Ed Miller, who introduced the resolution, says he simply wants the federal government to do its job and stop illegals from crossing the border. “Now what the hell is wrong with upholding the law?” he asks. But commissioner Wayne West, who opposed it, describes the prospect of law enforcement asking people to prove their citizenship as “nothing but pure harassment.”
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
Waiting Their Turn
The number of unresolved cases in the federal immigration detention system has reached an all-time high, driven in part by surging backlogs in Texas, especially in San Antonio and El Paso. Blame it on not enough judges.
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Demographics
The Nativists Are Restless
Texans narrowly oppose a “pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants, strongly favor an end to in-state tuition for non-citizens at state colleges and universities, would support a constitutional “English-only” amendment and overwhelmingly say that businesses should verify the immigration status of their workers, according to the new UT/Texas Tribune poll.
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Demographics
TribBlog: U.S. Troops Will Be Sent to the Border … Again
U.S. National Guard troops will soon patrol the United States’ border with Mexico — again.
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Demographics
Guest Column: For Arizona
If the federal law was enforced, there would be no need for an Arizona law or any other law in a state that is proposing similar legislation.
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Demographics
Guest Column: Against Arizona
The Arizona law misses the mark because it fails to address the underlying problems with our broken borders.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Border Hostages
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is pushing hard for the FAA to approve a second aerial drone to surveil the Texas-Mexico border — holding an Obama nominee hostage until Texas gets its way.
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Demographics
Border Bickering
Five members of the U.S. House are lashing out at Gov. Rick Perry for what they say is his refusal to allocate more of the federal funding that moves through his office to the border. Perry claims his hands are tied and insists the congressmen need to check their math. While the back and forth continues, residents of the border fear for their lives.
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Demographics
TribBlog: Cattle, Catfish and Cartels
Nearly two months after border-area cattle inspection stations in Mexico ceased operations amid security concerns, the sites have reopened on the Texas side of the border. A popular South Texas lake, however, is now on the radar.
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Demographics
TribBlog: El Paso City Reps. Urge Changes in Drug Policy
City of El Paso representatives call for a change in drug policy, allege current laws are a failure.
