Julián Aguilar

Texans March To Protect Historic Church Slated To Be Cut-Off By Border Wall

A team of activists has launched the start of a massive effort to convince lawmakers not to wall off part of the Rio Grande Valley — and trap a historic church between the border wall and the Rio Grande river.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar
Trumps Border Wall

MISSION — It’s supposed to be God, not government, that decides when a Catholic church that’s been welcoming parishioners since 1899 should burn its last candle. But as the sun’s light slowly burnt away the lingering fog surrounding La Lomita chapel at 7 a.m. Saturday, a team of activists was launching the start of a massive effort to convince

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Report: Texas Could Lose Billions Over New Sanctuary City Law

Representatives from Texas’ business, local government and higher education sectors argued Tuesday that the state’s new immigration-enforcement law could do billions of dollars in damage to the Texas economy.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar
Report: Texas To Lose Billions Over Sanctuary City Law

Representatives from Texas’ business, local government and higher education sectors argued Tuesday that the state’s new immigration-enforcement law, which is slated to take effect Sept. 1, could do billions of dollars in damage to the Texas economy. Using data from the 2015 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the

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Blue-Collar Workers In Both US & Mexico Devastated By NAFTA

The trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada displaced about 2 million small farmers in Mexico.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar

As the state’s business leaders vie for a seat at the table during the North American Free Trade Agreement’s upcoming renegotiation talks, another interest group is hoping there is enough room for one more point of view. Unlike those who advocate for cheaper products and tariff-free commerce, they're speaking out for the blue-collar workers on

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Texas Senate Paves Way For ‘Baby Jails’ To Be Licensed As ‘Family Residential Centers’

The legislation would allow the state to exempt the facilities from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Service’s general residential operations standards.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar
Immigration

The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to legislation that would make it easier for the state to license privately run detention centers as "family residential centers" in order to hold immigrant families in detention centers longer. Senate Bill 1018 by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineloa, would ease the guidelines the centers must

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Texas Residents Brace For Border Wall Eminent Domain Battles

As the Trump administration sets its sights on building a barrier on the country’s southern border, a group of Texas attorneys aims to help border residents ensure they are properly compensated for whatever land the government seizes.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar
The U.S.-Mexico border fence stretches 14 miles inland separating San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, in this March 27, 2006, file photo. The homes at left are in Tijuana. This section of became the western-most end of the fence when an additional 700 miles of non-contiguous fencing, was erected between California and Texas as a part of the Secure Fence Act. (AP/Lenny Ignelzi)

A group of Texas attorneys launched a campaign Wednesday to help ensure that property owners on the state’s southern border are properly compensated should the Trump administration seize their lands for a border wall. The Texas Civil Rights Project says it will focus its efforts on lower-income residents who don’t have the skills or knowledge

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Trump Directs Border Patrol, ICE And Local Police To Expand Deportations

The Trump administration on Tuesday moved one step closer to implementing the president’s plans to aggressively rid the country of undocumented immigrants and expand local police-based enforcement of border security operations.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar
Immigration Overload-Nogales

The Trump administration on Tuesday moved one step closer to implementing the president’s plans to aggressively rid the country of undocumented immigrants and expand local police-based enforcement of border security operations. In a fact sheet outlining the efforts, the Department of Homeland Security said that though their top priority is

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Texas Republicans Make Third Attempt To Ban ‘Sanctuary Cities’

Bills targeting “sanctuary cities” failed to pass the Texas Legislature in 2011 and 2015, but similar efforts this session have better chances of making it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

Julián Aguilar
By Julián Aguilar
The Rev. Annie Steinberg-Behrman, right, provisional pastor with Metropolitan Community Church, holds a sign while listening to speakers at a meeting at City Hall in San Francisco by city leaders and community activists to reaffirm the city's commitment to being a sanctuary city in response to Donald Trump's support of deportations and other measures against immigrants Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The Legislature is gearing up for a fight over "sanctuary cities" bills — and not for the first time. The current debate was foreshadowed by one in 2011, but this time, chances are better that a bill could make it to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Texas’ proposed 2011 ban on sanctuary cities, the common term for local entities that don’t enforce

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