https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/The latest news by Berenice Garcia.enWed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-redistricting-representation-maps/The GOP push to redraw the state’s congressional maps isn’t just a partisan move but one that deeply affects how Texans are represented in Congress.By Joshua Fechter and Berenice Garcia, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-redistricting-representation-maps/U.S. Rep Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, testified during a July 28 redistricting committee hearing held at the University of Texas at Arlington. Veasey has represented Fort Worth for more than a decade and would be drawn out of his seat if Texas Republicans move forward with a mid-decade redistricting plan.U.S. Rep Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, testifies during a redistricting committee hearing held at the University of Texas at Arlington on July 28, 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/texas-screwworm-usda-brooke-rollins/Mounted patrol officers, known as tick riders, who typically patrol the southern border to protect cattle from fever tick, will also now serve as the first line of defense against screwworm.By Berenice GarciaFri, 15 Aug 2025 14:44:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/texas-screwworm-usda-brooke-rollins/The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced it would build a $750 million factory to produce sterile flies meant to destory the screwworm population making its way north thru Mexico.Forty to fifty head of cattle down from 5,000 due to restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico at the Vaquero Trading stockyard in Sunland Park, New Mexico on January 8, 2025.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-deported-mexico-illegal-return-immigration-galvan/Jaime Galvan Sanchez has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years. He was deported in less than 24 hours without due process and allowed to return. But his family is still suffering from the aftermath.By Berenice Garcia, Photos by Gabriel V. CárdenasThu, 07 Aug 2025 11:06:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/texas-deported-mexico-illegal-return-immigration-galvan/Geovanna Galvan, left, goes through her dad’s, Jaime Galvan Sanchez, paperwork at their home in Mercedes. After living in the U.S. for more than 20 years, it took less than 24 hours for immigration officials to deport Jaime, right.Jaime Galván, 48, lights a candle that would be followed with his prayer at the Saint Jude Grotto in Pharr, Texas on April 23, 2025. The Galván family is very devoted to Saint Jude and now they pray for a miracle to happen so that Mr. Galván can get legal status so that he is not deported. Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas TribuneGabriel V. Cardenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/texas-rio-grande-valley-border-health-federal-cuts/It’s the first time Operation Border Health has canceled in 26 years. More than 6,600 people received check-ups, dental services, diabetes screenings and more last year.By Berenice GarciaWed, 16 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/16/texas-rio-grande-valley-border-health-federal-cuts/Pedestrians walk in downtown McAllen on Oct. 31, 2021. Federal funding cuts led to the cancellation of this year's Operation Border Health, a multi-county free health clinic event that serves thousands of people in the Rio Grande Valley.Pedestrians walk in downtown McAllen on Oct. 31, 2021.Jason Garza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/south-texas-monica-de-la-cruz-bracero-farms-immigration/The South Texas Republican’s “Bracero 2.0” legislation — named after a 1940s temporary labor program — comes as the Trump administration has increasingly cracked down on undocumented farmworkers.By Berenice GarciaMon, 14 Jul 2025 15:53:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/south-texas-monica-de-la-cruz-bracero-farms-immigration/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-tomato-trade-agreement-mexico/The 1996 agreement is set to expire Monday, which could raise the price of Mexican tomatoes and threaten thousands of Texas jobs.By Berenice GarciaFri, 11 Jul 2025 14:58:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-tomato-trade-agreement-mexico/Employees at Anavale Produce in Pharr sort tomatoes for shipment in 2012. The produce comes from the Comarca Lagunera region of Mexico.Employees at Anavale Produce in Pharr sort tomatoes for shipment in 2012. The produce comes from the Comarca Lagunera region of Mexico.Reynaldo Leal for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/spacex-south-texas-liquid-oxygen-plant-rocket-fuel/Cameron County commissioners approved the request this week over the objection of some residents and SpaceX critics.By Berenice GarciaWed, 09 Jul 2025 14:03:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/spacex-south-texas-liquid-oxygen-plant-rocket-fuel/SpaceX says the new plant will mean fewer trucks on the roads delivering the liquid gas it needs for its rockets.A SpaceX platform behind a dune at Boca Chica beach on Aug. 8, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/border-shooting-south-texas-michigan-man/Three officials were injured during the shooting and are recovering. The FBI is investigating the incident.By Berenice GarciaMon, 07 Jul 2025 11:16:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/border-shooting-south-texas-michigan-man/A man is dead after he shot at a border patrol station in McAllen.The levee-border wall can be seen through concertina wire from the the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge in Reynosa, Mexico on May 5, 2022.Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-flooding-updates-kerrville-camp-mystic/About two dozen people were still missing. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number.By Berenice Garcia, Jessica Shuran Yu and Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Graphics by Chris Essig and Edison WuSat, 05 Jul 2025 11:22:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-flooding-updates-kerrville-camp-mystic/A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville.A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-parents-challenges-citizenship-donald-trump/The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship to take effect in certain states in 30 days.By Uriel J. García, Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Terri LangfordFri, 27 Jun 2025 17:22:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-parents-challenges-citizenship-donald-trump/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-donald-trump-texas/The ruling was a partial victory for President Donald Trump who has made immigration his signature issue.By Uriel J. García, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Berenice Garcia and Associated PressFri, 27 Jun 2025 09:34:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-donald-trump-texas/The Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.The Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025.Luke Johnson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/25/texas-screwworm-greg-abbott/Abbott ordered two Texas agencies to begin working together and with residents and business leaders to stop the spread of the invasive fly before it even starts.By Berenice GarciaWed, 25 Jun 2025 18:03:26 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/25/texas-screwworm-greg-abbott/Texas is taking steps to prevent the screwworm, an invasive fly, from entering the state. The screwworm poses a large threat to the state's cattle industry.Cattle at a ranch in Cedar Creek on March 28, 2021.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-screwworm-facility-brooke-rollins/Screwworm is a parasitic fly that targets warm-blooded animals and has the potential to disrupt Texas’ $15 billion cattle industry.By Berenice GarciaWed, 18 Jun 2025 17:36:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-screwworm-facility-brooke-rollins/The U.S. is opening a facility in the Rio Grande Valley to help stop the spread of the screwworm, a parasitic fly that could threaten the state's cattle industry.Cattle are brought across the U.S.-Mexico border at the livestock import/export facility in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on January 22, 2021.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/texas-fema-beach-restoration/The Trump administration is proposing limits to the recreational facilities — including beaches — that are eligible for federal assistance.By Berenice GarciaMon, 16 Jun 2025 12:34:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/texas-fema-beach-restoration/The beach in the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on South Padre Island.The beach in the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on South Padre Island.Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/Demonstrations in McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Austin and elsewhere in Texas were largely peaceful, as some protests went well into the night.By Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Ayden Runnels and Jessica Shuran YuSat, 14 Jun 2025 15:40:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/Beth Vaughan, center, chants as protesters march up Walker Street during a “No Kings” protest at Houston City Hall on June 14.Beth Vaughan, at center, chants as protestors march up Walker Street during a No Kings protest at City Hall, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Houston.Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/rural-texas-legislation/Lawmakers sought to close gaps in education and support funding for agriculture, disaster preparedness and health care this year.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Jess Huff and Berenice GarciaThu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/rural-texas-legislation/The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/texas-san-angelo-rural-lawmakers-legislative-session-impact/The San Angelo Republican, at a Texas Tribune event, also weighed in on water and energy policy.By Berenice GarciaWed, 04 Jun 2025 08:27:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/texas-san-angelo-rural-lawmakers-legislative-session-impact/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/texas-legislature-starbase-elon-musk-spacex-beach/Local organizations strongly opposed the measure, hosting phone banking events to urge lawmakers to vote against the bill.By Berenice GarciaSun, 01 Jun 2025 16:43:28 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/texas-legislature-starbase-elon-musk-spacex-beach/A visitor stands on a dune at Boca Chica Beach near the SpaceX launch site on Aug. 8, 2024.A visitor stands on a dune at Boca Chica Beach near the SpaceX launch site on Aug. 8, 2024.Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/30/starbase-texas-spacex-loan/City leaders held their first public meetings this week since voters approved the South Texas city’s incorporation.By Berenice GarciaFri, 30 May 2025 15:35:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/30/starbase-texas-spacex-loan/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/starbase-spacex-boca-chica-beach-texas-legislature/The Texas Senate agreed Friday to make it easier for the new city, home to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to shutter the beach during rocket launches.By Berenice GarciaSat, 24 May 2025 12:58:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/starbase-spacex-boca-chica-beach-texas-legislature/