For a Texan who wants to build bridges in Congress, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales has burned quite a few
The two-term Republican, criticized by his own party for breaking with the GOP on key votes, is not inclined to change his ways. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing the Texas’ 23rd district, talks during an interview in his office at Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2023. Gonzales is a member of the House Appropriations Committees.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Eight killed outside Brownsville migrant shelter after car crashes into pedestrians
The driver has been detained, but authorities say it is unclear what caused the fatal crash at a Brownsville bus stop. Full Story
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![A police officer is consoled after a deadly incident where a car ran into pedestrians near Ozanam Center, a shelter for migrants and homeless, in Brownsville on May 7, 2023.]()
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As U.S. prepares to end rapid expulsions of migrants, a Venezuelan family decides to risk crossing the border
A Venezuelan couple with two children waited in Mexico for weeks for a chance to claim asylum. They decided to cross the border after a relative died in a detention center fire and other family members successfully made it across. Full Story
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![Migrant Abel Oviedo, right, of Venezuela hugs his two sons, David, 4, and Matias, 2, at the home he is staying at in the outskirts of town, Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Oviedo lost his half-brother, Orlando Maldonado, after a migrant detention center caught fire, killing 40 men and injuring more than 25, on March 27th in the center of town. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: How language advocates brought Houston voices to the Capitol
In the months leading up to their committee hearing, Woori Juntos community members trained on how to share their personal stories with legislators — in their own language. Full Story
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![Stephen Wu waits in the back of the room while the Human Services committee comes to order in the early morning at the state Capitol in Austin on April 25. 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Biden orders 1,500 more troops to Mexico border as U.S. prepares to end Title 42
The troops won’t perform law enforcement duties, federal officials said. Full Story
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![A group of migrants from Venezuela walk between the southern border wall and the Rio Grande river towards a temporary border patrol processing facility on October 6, 2022 in El Paso. Record numbers of migrants, mostly from Venezuela, began arriving at the US/Mexico border this month.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
As Title 42 comes to an end, El Paso declares state of emergency
El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser said asylum-seekers are camping out on the sidewalks and staying at shelters in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, under the false notion that they will be allowed to enter the U.S. once Title 42 expires. Full Story
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![Migrants stand in line to enter the makeshift shelter inside the gym of Sacred Heart Church in El Paso on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas immigrants “shocked” by bill that would have prevented them from buying homes
Initially, Senate Bill 147 would have prevented legal Texas residents from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying land. Pushback from immigrant groups persuaded senators to soften the proposal. Full Story
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![Protesters gathered in Houston on Feb. 10, 2023 against SB 147, which at the time would have prevented citizens from China and other countries from purchasing land in Texas.]()
Credit: Fabiana Chaparro/The Texas Tribune -
New Biden plan will let people in Latin American countries apply to legally enter U.S., Canada or Spain
As it prepares for the end of Title 42, which lets U.S. officials rapidly expel migrants, the Biden administration said it will open centers in Guatemala and Colombia where people can apply to legally enter the three participating nations. Full Story
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![A migrant family embraces each other moments after crossing the Rio Grande and ino El Paso from Ciudad Juárez on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
For migrant children who cross the border alone, a new set of challenges getting health care awaits
A report from the Migration Policy Institute and the American Academy of Pediatrics details the barriers undocumented children face in the United States. Full Story
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![Migrant children in the courtyard of the Our Lady-Guadalupe Catholic Church School in Mission on July 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Months after being freed, Afghan soldier arrested at border is now on a path toward asylum and healing
Wasi and his brother pray for their family’s safety as the holy month of Ramadan ends and the Taliban continues to rule Afghanistan. Full Story
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![Abdul Wasi Safi talks with his father in Afghanistan on Friday, April 21, 2023, in Houston, TX.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
T-Squared: Tribune wins Texas Managing Editors awards for investigative, freedom of information and feature reporting
Texas Tribune journalists were also finalists or honorable mentions in numerous other categories. Full Story
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![Impact, Recognition and Awards]()
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Immigrant rights advocates waited over 9 hours to testify against a proposed Border Protection Unit to “deter and repel” migrants
House Bill 20 introduced by Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, would create a unit whose officers can “arrest, apprehend, or detain persons crossing the Texas-Mexico border unlawfully,” and deter those attempting to cross the border. Full Story
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![Migrants help carry a raft towards the Rio Grande river before being smuggled into Roma, Texas from Ciudad Miguel Aleman, Mexico, on Aug. 26, 2022.]()
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Family of dead National Guardsman urges Legislature to make bill named for him retroactive
While the state guarantees law enforcement officers, like Department of Public Safety troopers, a $500,000 death benefit for their families if they die on duty, National Guard troops who stand shoulder to shoulder with those DPS officers on Operation Lone Star don’t have the same benefit. Full Story
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![Jo Ann Johnson sits for a portrait with a photo of her grandson, Bishop Evans, in her home in Arlington, TX on Dec. 7, 2022. 22-year-old Bishop Evans, who was serving on the Texas Army National Guard and assigned to work on Operation Lone Star, died after jumping into the Rio Grande to save two migrants. “When they told me why, I understood, because he saw someone who needed help. That was who he was — he helped people.”]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Homeland security chief calls Ted Cruz’s comments “revolting” in heated border hearing
“You’re willing to let children be raped to follow political orders,” Cruz told Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas at the hearing. “This is a crisis. It’s a disgrace.” Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to Peter McCormack about bitcoin and freedom at the Texas Blockchain Summit in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribune -
Fire at migrant center in Mexico near El Paso kills at least 39
Mexico’s president said the fire started in the Ciudad Juárez center when migrants learned they would be deported and set fire to mattresses in protest. Twenty-nine injured migrants were sent to local hospitals. Full Story
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![Medics give aid to a migrant who survived a fire that broke out at a Mexican immigration detention center in Ciudad Juárez on Monday, March 27, 2023. 37 people died in the fire.]()
Credit: Omar Ornelas-USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERS -
Two dead, several injured near Uvalde after migrants found “suffocating” inside train car
Uvalde officials said U.S. Border Patrol responded to a 911 call alerting them about a group of people who were trapped for hours inside of a shipping container. Full Story
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This rancher doesn’t want a border wall on his land. He fears Texas will build it anyway.
Anti-border wall activists are racing to find landowners along the Rio Grande before they sign contracts with the state. Full Story
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![Joseph Hein at his 580-acre ranch on the Webb and Zapata county lines on Feb. 15, 2023. Hein breeds horses at his ranch, but fears that if the border wall is built through a portion of his land, it will restrict access to the Rio Grande River and he will likely have to sell his horses.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
“We just want parity”: Military groups call on lawmakers to give Operation Lone Star troops death benefits
Law enforcement officers who serve on Operation Lone Star get a $500,000 death benefit for their survivors if they die on duty. But National Guard troops on the same mission don’t get a dime from the state for their families if they die. Full Story
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![Jo Ann Johnson goes through awards given to her grandson Bishop Evans, who died while working on Operation Lone Star, inside of her home in Arlington, TX on December 7, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Hundreds of frustrated Venezuelan migrants block bridge linking El Paso and Juárez
Migrants rushed through the toll booths on the Juárez side of the bridge Sunday afternoon after rumors spread that the border was temporarily opened. Full Story
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![Venezuelan migrants gather at the top of the Paso del Norte International Bridge on Sunday as rumors swirled that Customs and Border Protection would receive migrants without prior appointments.]()
Credit: Photo courtesy Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters -
House unveils bill giving state authority to “repel” and return migrants crossing from Mexico
House Bill 20 by state Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, would test the boundaries of the state’s ability to enforce immigration law, which courts have historically ruled falls under federal purview. Full Story
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![Department of Public Safety agent arrest an undocumented migrant after he was caught on private property as part of Operation Lone Star in Kinney County near Brackettville, on Nov. 9, 2021.]()
Credit: Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for ProPublica/The Texas Tribune