https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/The latest news by Berenice Garcia.enWed, 08 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/08/texas-immigration-mass-deportations-economy/“We wouldn’t survive” without undocumented workers, one South Texas produce business owner said. By one estimate, 8% of Texas’ workforce lacks legal status.By Alejandra Martinez, Alejandro Serrano, Berenice Garcia, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Joshua FechterWed, 08 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/08/texas-immigration-mass-deportations-economy/Construction workers building homes in San Antonio on Dec. 10, 2024.Construction workers building homes in far west San Antonio on Dec. 10, 2024.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/22/texas-ken-paxton-ncaa-transgender-college-athletes-women-sports/The attorney general is accusing the organization of misleading fans by allowing transgender college athletes in women’s sports.By Berenice GarciaSun, 22 Dec 2024 18:57:57 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/22/texas-ken-paxton-ncaa-transgender-college-athletes-women-sports/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday he sued the NCAA, accusing the college sports organization of misleading fans by allowing transgender athletes to participate in women's sports.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to delegates at the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio on June 15, 2018.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/22/texas-kay-granger-health-fort-worth/The Fort Worth Republican’s last vote in Congress was in July. She did not seek reelection this year.By Berenice GarciaSun, 22 Dec 2024 16:35:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/22/texas-kay-granger-health-fort-worth/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/texas-citrus-industry-water/A hurricane and winter freeze devastated the South Texas industry. A lack of water is preventing a full recovery.By Berenice GarciaThu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/texas-citrus-industry-water/Grapefruit trees at Lone Star Citrus Growers groves in Mission on Dec. 16. A pair of natural disasters — including Winter Storm Uri in 2021 — and a lack of water has put the million-dollar citrus industry and regional leaders on edge.Grapefruit trees at Lone Star Citrus Growers groves in Mission on Dec. 16, 2024.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/texas-space-x-lawsuit-tceq-pollution/In the lawsuit, the groups accuse TCEQ of exceeding its authority by allowing the discharges.By Berenice GarciaWed, 18 Dec 2024 17:07:51 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/texas-space-x-lawsuit-tceq-pollution/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/texas-undocumented-immigrants-mass-deportations-trump/As Republican Texas leaders show support for Trump’s mass deportation plans, undocumented people — some who have lived in America for decades — are weighing their options amid mounting fears.By Alejandra Martinez, Berenice Garcia and Alejandro SerranoWed, 18 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/texas-undocumented-immigrants-mass-deportations-trump/The 41-year-old co-founder of a nonprofit that aids immigrants at his office in Dallas on Dec. 16, 2024. Born in Mexico and brought to the U.S. by his parents when he was 7, the man is undocumented and anxious about President-elect Donald Trump's promises of mass deportations.DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 16, 2024: A Dallas-resident, 41, co-founder of a nonprofit organization, at his office in Dallas, Texas on Monday, December 16, 2024. The resident was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico and migrated to the United States when he was seven-years-old. He was a DACA recipient until it expired and he didn’t reapply in time. CREDIT: Desiree Rios for The Texas TribuneDesiree Rios for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-mass-deportation-plan-immigrants/Groups are urging the state’s estimated 1.6 million undocumented migrants to prepare financially and make plans for their loved ones if they’re detained.By Berenice GarciaFri, 13 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-mass-deportation-plan-immigrants/Attendees listen to an information session on Dec. 6 meant to prepare people for the incoming Trump administration's deportation plans in San Juan.Attendees listen to LUPE staff members during an information session to prepare people for the incoming Trump administration's deportation plans on Dec. 6, 2024, in San Juan.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/12/spacex-starbase-city-texas-cameron-county/Citing all the work the company has put into the region, employees are requesting a special election in Cameron County to incorporate a city.By Berenice GarciaThu, 12 Dec 2024 17:25:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/12/spacex-starbase-city-texas-cameron-county/Starbase sits on the Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville. SpaceX employees say they want their own official city.The Starbase letters at SpaceX's Boca Chica Brownsville facility on Oct. 20, 2021. The SpaceX facility has become a popular destination for tourists.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/12/rio-grande-law-school-texas-legislature/Advocates say a law school in one of the state's poorest regions would exponentially help communities with legal aid.By Berenice GarciaThu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/12/rio-grande-law-school-texas-legislature/State Rep. Armando "Mondo" Martinez speaks during a Texas Tribune event on Aug. 24, 2022.Armando Martinez speaks during the Inside the Interim with RGV Lawmakers Event in Edinburg on Aug. 24, 2022.Jason Garza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/03/texas-broadband-expansion-problems/Despite the efforts of local governments and others, the move to provide internet access to millions of Texans has been slow and faces new challenges.By Jayme Lozano Carver, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Berenice GarciaTue, 03 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/03/texas-broadband-expansion-problems/A sign welcoming visitors to Big Lake on Sept. 24. The town, about 200 miles south of Lubbock, is the county seat of Reagan County, where internet service providers are set to receive money to build infrastructure.A sign welcoming visitors to Big Lake. Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.Mitch Borden for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-donald-trump-deportation-land-offer/Two events in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday made clear Texas officials will work with the Trump administration on immigration.By Berenice GarciaTue, 26 Nov 2024 11:56:12 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-donald-trump-deportation-land-offer/Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump's "border czar" appointee, speaks to Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and National Guard troops at a Thanksgiving dinner event in Edinburg on Nov. 26, 2024.Incoming Trump administration appointee Border Czar Tom Homan speaks to DPS Troopers and National Guard troops at a Thanksgiving dinner event in Edinburg on Nov. 26, 2024.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/rio-grande-water-texas-mexico-treaty/Texas agreed to take 120,000 acre-feet of water from Mexico this month, only after the U.S. and Mexico agreed to an updated treaty.By Berenice GarciaFri, 22 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/22/rio-grande-water-texas-mexico-treaty/An amendment to the 1944 international water treaty between Mexico and the United States compelled Texas to accept 120,000 acre-feet of water from the San Juan River.The Rio Grande river is seen where it meets with the San Juan River in Rio Grande City, Texas on Dec. 19, 2020.Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune/ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/20/donald-trump-elon-musk-rio-grande-valley/The president-elect was in South Texas to witness a test flight at SpaceX, whose founder, Elon Musk, is co-leading Trump’s government efficiency commission.By Berenice GarciaWed, 20 Nov 2024 10:40:16 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/20/donald-trump-elon-musk-rio-grande-valley/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/09/us-mexico-water-treaty-south-texas/The amendment to a 1944 treaty will help Mexico catch up with its water deliveries to the U.S. and might help Rio Grande Valley farmers devastated by low rainfall.By Berenice GarciaSat, 09 Nov 2024 14:19:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/09/us-mexico-water-treaty-south-texas/The Rio Grande Valley is facing a drought, greatly affecting farmers in the region.A resaca near agriculture fields near Los Fresnos, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. The Rio Grande Valley is facing a drought, greatly affecting farmers in the region.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/The former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region.By Jasper Scherer, Zach Despart and Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune, and Perla Trevizo and Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublicaWed, 06 Nov 2024 21:45:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/donald-trump-near-sweep-texas-border-counties/Democratic Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, secured a fifth term in office with bipartisan support. The county tipped strongly for Donald Trump, reflecting a broader trend of Republican gains along the border.Gabriel Garza, left, augmentee with the sheriff’s office, congratulates, Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, right, after the final vote counts for the night were announced around 10pm at Val Verde County Courthouse on election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Del Rio, Texas. Martinez was in the lead ahead of his opponent Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez 7,926 votes to 6,033.Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune and ProPublicahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-2024-mayra-flores-vicente-gonzalez-district-34/Both major parties poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into winning the seat, a rematch between Mayra Flores and Vicente Gonzalez.By Berenice GarciaTue, 05 Nov 2024 23:35:10 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-2024-mayra-flores-vicente-gonzalez-district-34/U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, declares victory over his Republican challenger, Mayra Flores, at a Brownsville watch party on Tuesday.U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, declares victory over his Republican challenger, Mayra Flores, at a Brownsville watch party on Nov. 5, 2024.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/texas-elections-2024-rio-grande-city-voting-changes/The Rio Grande City mayor and two of his fellow commissioners proposed the changes, claiming the city secretary mishandled their election.By Berenice GarciaMon, 04 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/texas-elections-2024-rio-grande-city-voting-changes/Rio Grande City, with a population of 15,200, is the county seat of Starr County.Rio Grande City is the county seat of Starr County.Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate/Both candidates are making their closing arguments at the culmination of a heated and expensive race which could decide control of the U.S. Senate.By Jasper Scherer, Berenice Garcia, Matthew Choi and James BarragánMon, 04 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-senate/U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-college-campus-voting-access/The county decided to not have an early voting site at a Laredo university because of historic low turnout. It will have one on Election Day.By Berenice GarciaWed, 30 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/30/texas-college-campus-voting-access/Residents vote at the Texas A&M International University campus on Nov. 8, 2020. Students had hoped Webb County would host an early voting center at the campus.Voting on the Texas A&M International University campus on Nov. 8, 2024.Jessica Nicole Rodriguez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/texas-mexico-water-rio-grande-valley/Farmers say they want the water, but not if it goes against the allotment they need for the spring planting season.By Berenice GarciaFri, 25 Oct 2024 12:26:51 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/texas-mexico-water-rio-grande-valley/The Rio Grande River divides the United States, right, and Mexico at Los Ebanos on Jan. 14, 2022. South Texas farmers are reluctant to take water from Mexico in a new deal.The Rio Grande River divides the United States, right, and Mexico. Los Ebanos on Jan. 14, 2022.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune