https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/maria-mendez/The latest news by María Méndez.enWed, 26 Feb 2025 17:35:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/26/texas-ice-derechos-inmigrantes/Abogados y grupos de inmigración recomiendan a los inmigrantes informarse sobre las acciones de la administración del presidente Donald Trump, como la expansión del uso de expulsiones aceleradas.By María MéndezWed, 26 Feb 2025 17:35:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/26/texas-ice-derechos-inmigrantes/A migrant from El Salvador and her son take part in a caravan heading to the U.S. border, near Huixtla, Mexico November 27, 2021.A migrant from El Salvador and her son take part in a caravan heading to the U.S. border, near Huixtla, Mexico November 27, 2021.REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalezhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/26/texas-impact-united-states-supreme-court/Here’s how federal courts help determine the fate of controversial issues, such as immigration laws, in Texas and beyond.By María Méndez, Graphics by Yuriko SchumacherWed, 26 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/26/texas-impact-united-states-supreme-court/The United States Federal Courthouse in Austin on June 9, 2023.The United States Federal Courthouse in Austin on June 9, 2023.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/31/texas-ice-immigration-know-your-rights/Recent enforcement operations across Texas have raised concerns among undocumented immigrants. Here’s what immigration attorneys want you to know about your rights and resources.By María MéndezFri, 31 Jan 2025 16:39:01 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/31/texas-ice-immigration-know-your-rights/A migrant from El Salvador and her son take part in a caravan heading to the U.S. border, near Huixtla, Mexico November 27, 2021.A migrant from El Salvador and her son take part in a caravan heading to the U.S. border, near Huixtla, Mexico November 27, 2021.REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalezhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/13/texas-legislature-2025-bills-laws-how-works/Here’s a rundown of how legislation moves through the Capitol, the ways lawmakers operate and who the power players are.By María MéndezMon, 13 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/13/texas-legislature-2025-bills-laws-how-works/State representatives meet on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2023.State representatives meet on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-voting-2024/A mostly quiet Election Day in Texas came after a series of pitched partisan battles over how elections should be conducted.By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneTue, 05 Nov 2024 21:51:06 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-voting-2024/People wait in line to vote at the Brazos County Election Administration Office on Election Day in Bryan.People wait in line to vote at the Brazos County Election Administrator Office on Election Day in Bryan on Nov. 5, 2024.Montinique Monroe for Votebeathttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-2024-election-voting-issues/Tell us about any trouble you have trying to vote, so we can continue to report on potential challenges Texans may face at the ballot box.By Vianna Davila and Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and María Méndez, The Texas TribuneTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-2024-election-voting-issues/Francisco Hinojosa, 71, who declares himself as a straight democrat, poses for a photo after voting at Lark Branch Library in McAllen, Texas on Oct. 22, 2024.Francisco Hinojosa, 71, who declares himself as a straight democrat, poses for a photo after voting at Lark Branch Library in McAllen, Texas on Oct. 22, 2024.Verónica Gabriel Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-2024-election-results-counting-process/By state law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close. Meeting that deadline requires careful but quick work.By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 31 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-2024-election-results-counting-process/Voters cast their ballots at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus polling location in Arlington on primary election day, March 5, 2024.Voters cast their ballots at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus polling location in Arlington on primary election day, March 5, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/23/texas-2024-ballots-secure-elections/Only a handful of Texas counties will not have all in-person voters cast paper ballots at the polls. By 2026, all voting machines in Texas must produce a paper trail, per a 2021 state law.By María MéndezWed, 23 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/23/texas-2024-ballots-secure-elections/Hays County elections administrator Jennifer Doinoff assists people testing polling equipment at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.People test the polling equipment at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/21/texas-2024-elections-early-voting-polls-rules/Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Our guide outlines your voting rights and where you can cast a ballot.By María MéndezMon, 21 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/21/texas-2024-elections-early-voting-polls-rules/People test the polling equipment at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.People test the polling equipment at the Hays County election office on Sept. 18, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/04/texas-voter-registration-2024/Our guide can help you determine how to register, who is eligible to vote, whether you’re still registered and more in advance of Election Day.By María MéndezFri, 04 Oct 2024 16:03:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/04/texas-voter-registration-2024/Texas Voter Registration Application in Houston, on April 5, 2024.Texas Voter Registration Application in Houston, on April 5, 2024.Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/03/texas-2024-election-issues-to-watch/Texan voters will have significant influence in November, both within and outside the state. They will be electing a U.S. senator, 38 U.S. House members, 150 state House members, as well as various judges and local elected officials. Additionally, they will have influence over important questions.By María Méndez and Texas Tribune StaffThu, 03 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/03/texas-2024-election-issues-to-watch/Voters wait in line outside Cody Public Library in San Antonio during the evening hours of Election Day, Oct. 23, 2020.The Capitol Dome overlooks the city on Tuesday, June 24, 2024, at the Texas Capitol Building in Austin.Olivia Anderson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/texas-votar-elecciones-espanol-2024/La fecha límite para registrarse para votar es el 7 de octubre. El último día para solicitar una boleta para votar por correo es el 25 de octubre. El periodo de votación anticipada será del 21 de octubre al 1 de noviembre.By María MéndezFri, 20 Sep 2024 17:09:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/texas-votar-elecciones-espanol-2024/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/16/texas-voter-registration-check/The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and Votebeat want to hear from people removed from voter rolls.By María MéndezMon, 16 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/16/texas-voter-registration-check/A voter registration card in 2022. The deadline to register to vote in this year's elections is Oct. 7.Lily Trieu, interim executive director of Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ), who produced a report researching Asian voters, holds a voter registration card in her home in Austin on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Asian communities are growing rapidly in Texas, but still feel left out of the political process.May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/11/texas-housing-crisis-impact/The Texas Tribune is writing about the state’s housing affordability crisis. Help us tell the story.By Joshua Fechter and María MéndezWed, 11 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/11/texas-housing-crisis-impact/A residential neighborhood seen on Aug. 10 in Midland.A residential neighborhood seen Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Midland.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/03/texas-voter-assistance-registration-mail-in-ballots-guide/Texas officials have launched investigations into voting fraud allegations, but assisting other voters isn’t automatically illegal.By María Méndez and Xiomara MooreTue, 03 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/03/texas-voter-assistance-registration-mail-in-ballots-guide/Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Blue Mound City Hall in Blue Mound on November 8, 2022.Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on Election Day at the Blue Mound City Hall in Blue Mound on November 8, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttp://texastribune.org/voteView and easily share in-depth voter guides by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization.By María MéndezFri, 30 Aug 2024 08:02:25 -0500http://texastribune.org/voteVoters wait to cast their ballots at the Dittmar Recreation Center in South Austin on March 1, 2022.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/texas-voter-guide-2024-election/Election Day is Nov. 5. Here is everything you need to know about casting a ballot in Texas.By María Méndez and Yuriko Schumacher, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneWed, 21 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/texas-voter-guide-2024-election/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-2024-election-voting/We want to hear from all Texans – even if you can’t vote or are not sure you want to vote.By María MéndezThu, 25 Jul 2024 12:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-2024-election-voting/A view of the U.S. and Texas flags flown on the south side of the Texas Capitol from the Capitol Dome in Austin on Aug. 12, 2021A view of the U.S. and Texas flags flown on the south side of the Texas Capitol from the Capitol Dome in Austin on Aug. 12, 2021.Sophie Park/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/19/biden-texas-presidential-ballot-election-law/After Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, the Democratic Party could select a new nominee during its national convention Aug. 19-22, just in time for the nominee to appear on the Texas ballot.By María MéndezFri, 19 Jul 2024 14:46:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/19/biden-texas-presidential-ballot-election-law/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/08/hurricane-tropical-storm-beryl-safety-how-to-help/Officials warn of continued flooding and other risks as Beryl leaves. Groups are mobilizing to help affected Texans.By María Méndez and Mikayla HigginsMon, 08 Jul 2024 18:34:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/08/hurricane-tropical-storm-beryl-safety-how-to-help/The Morales family works to unclog storm drains across the street from their house in the Robindell neighborhood during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston.The Morales family works to unclog storm drains iacross the street from their house in Robindell during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune