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• As COVID-19 surges and curfew takes hold, El Paso leaders encourage voters to keep heading to the polls

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 27, 2020

  The situation in El Paso prompted city leaders to ask residents to stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to be out in public. But they said residents should still get out to vote. Full Story 

• Thousands of immigrants in Texas hope the courts or the election will save their protected status

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 26, 2020

  The Trump administration ended Temporary Protective Status for immigrants from several countries, and the decision is now before the courts. Tens of thousands of TPS recipients live in Texas. Full Story 

• El Paso officials ask residents to stay home for two weeks as COVID-19 hospitalizations surge

  by Cassandra Pollock and Julián Aguilar Oct. 25, 2020

  "Please continue to exercise your right to vote," said El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, who announced a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Full Story 

• State sends emergency medical personnel, supplies to El Paso as COVID-19 cases rise across Texas

  by Julián Aguilar and Shawn Mulcahy Oct. 22, 2020

  A new University of Texas report says the El Paso area is at high risk of exceeding hospital bed and ICU capacity early next month, and many other Texas cities could see similar problems in the coming weeks. Full Story 

• U.S. Supreme Court will hear cases on border wall funding, "remain in Mexico" policy

  by Julián Aguilar Updated: Oct. 19, 2020

  The Migrant Protection Protocols program has been criticized for sending thousands of vulnerable asylum seekers to Mexican border states that have seen sustained violence. Full Story 

• As El Paso sees another record high for coronavirus infections, leaders step up restrictions

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 15, 2020

  In addition to greater capacity limits for nonessential businesses, visits to nursing homes and elderly care facilities will be put on hold. Full Story 

• Border apprehensions down sharply in 2020 but spiked in September

  by Julián Aguilar Updated: Oct. 14, 2020

  Apprehensions of unaccompanied children dropped by as much as 70% in Border Patrol sectors along the Texas-Mexico border this fiscal year. Full Story 

• President Trump can’t use $3.6 billion in military funds for border wall construction, federal court rules

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 10, 2020

  The 2-1 decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes as $3.6 billion was slated for construction of about a dozen projects, including two projects in the Laredo and El Paso areas. Full Story 

• As El Paso sees record-high coronavirus infections, leaders say residents aren’t taking pandemic seriously enough

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 9, 2020

  City and county officials said the increase is largely due to residents letting their guard down. Full Story 

• Texas ACLU criticizes the extensive law enforcement presence at George Floyd’s burial

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 1, 2020

  A Pearland police official told the Houston Chronicle the city needed to be prepared for an event some thought might draw 60,000 people, including protesters and counter-protesters. Full Story 

• Trump administration to cut refugee admissions to record low

  by Julián Aguilar Oct. 1, 2020

  Texas is among the states that have accepted the most refugees within their borders since 2002. But those numbers have dropped under the Trump administration. Full Story 

• As Texas reopens, border leaders say restrictions at international bridges should be lifted

  by Julián Aguilar Sept. 29, 2020

  Local leaders say the federal government’s decision to extend a ban on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Mexico border is crippling their budgets and local businesses. Full Story 

• Immigration policies hang in the balance as U.S. Senate prepares for fight over Ginsburg's successor

  by Julián Aguilar, The Texas Tribune and Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Sept. 25, 2020

  President Trump hopes to quickly appoint a replacement for the liberal justice, and immigrant and civil rights groups are bracing for what could be years of losses in the high court. Full Story 

• In a rare move, a Texas military veteran who was deported years ago was allowed back home. Now he’s a U.S. citizen.

  by Julián Aguilar Sept. 23, 2020

  Frank De La Cruz went to war with the U.S. Navy and came home with a drinking problem. Then he was arrested for driving while intoxicated, and the government kicked him out of the country. Full Story 

• Thousands of immigrants in Texas could be forced to leave the country following court decision on protected status

  by Julián Aguilar Sept. 14, 2020

  The Trump administration wants to end Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of people from a number of countries who received protection because of armed conflicts and natural disasters. Full Story 

• As Congress weighs a new coronavirus aid bill, will U.S. citizens from mixed-status families get left out again?

  by Julián Aguilar Sept. 10, 2020

  U.S. citizens who have undocumented family members were barred from receiving stimulus checks earlier this year. They're hoping that Congress doesn't leave them out again. Full Story 

• Texas mayors warn pandemic's effects on city budgets will linger for years

  by Julián Aguilar Sept. 1, 2020

  The temporary closure of businesses and high levels of unemployment due to the pandemic have caused sales tax revenues — which make up a significant portion of cities' budgets — to plummet. Full Story 

• “It could have been far worse”: Texas and local officials express relief after state avoids massive damage

  by Julián Aguilar and Cassandra Pollock Updated: Aug. 27, 2020

  Gov. Greg Abbott said an aerial view of the area revealed more ripped-off rooftops and downed trees in Orange than anywhere else in Texas. Full Story 

• Advocates urge a legal review of Trump's immigration policies after report finds two top officials are not eligible to serve

  by Julián Aguilar Aug. 14, 2020

  A federal report determined that two Department of Homeland Security officials, including the acting secretary, aren’t legally qualified to hold those posts. Full Story 

• Trump called the USMCA the best trade deal ever. Analysts say it's not likely to help Texas during the pandemic.

  by Meena Venkataramanan and Julián Aguilar Aug. 12, 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic has clobbered the Texas economy and trade with Mexico, clouding the trade deal’s potential impacts, experts say. Full Story