https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/The latest news by Uriel J. García.enThu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-border-wall-greg-abbott-landowners/At least a third of landowners approached by state officials have refused to let wall be built on their properties. That’s forced the state to largely build on ranchland in remote areas, or erect sections that are full of gaps.By Zach Despart, Yuriko Schumacher and Uriel J. García, Photos by Eli HartmanThu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/texas-border-wall-greg-abbott-landowners/Ben Lowy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/25/texas-24-hours-border-takeaways/Reporters from both organizations spent a day documenting the reality on the border. Here’s a summary of what they found.By Berenice Garcia, Uriel J. García, Jakob Maurer and Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune, and Juan A. Lozano and Elliot Spagat, Associated PressWed, 25 Sep 2024 11:52:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/25/texas-24-hours-border-takeaways/A private border wall that extends nearly three miles stands in Mission, on Friday morning, Aug. 9, 2024.A private border wall that extends nearly three miles is seen in Mission, Texas on Aug. 9, 2024.Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/25/texas-border-24-hours-trump-harris-migrants/The Texas Tribune and The Associated Press visited five locations along the 1,254-mile span to separate the facts from the political narrative during a heated election year.By Berenice Garcia, Uriel J. García, Jakob Maurer and Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune, and Juan A. Lozano and Elliot Spagat, Associated PressWed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/25/texas-border-24-hours-trump-harris-migrants/Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, clockwise: A Venezuelan migrant family arriving in El Paso; the Rio Grande and Shelby Park in Eagle Pass; Andrés García, Border Patrol agent and public affairs officer at the border wall near Mission; a Customs and Border Protection officer and K-9 inspecting trucks at the Port of Laredo.Christina Smallwood, foreground, and Andrés García, Border Patrol agents and Public Affairs officers look for migrants underneath the vehicular McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge in Hidalgo, Texas, early Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/12/uvalde-texas-cbp-border-patrol-review/The review of CBP agents’ response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting found that active shooting training was insufficient.By Uriel J. GarcíaThu, 12 Sep 2024 16:59:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/12/uvalde-texas-cbp-border-patrol-review/A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent speaks to a reporter near the scene of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde.A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent speaks to a reporter near the scene Robb Elementary School, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/06/alejandro-mayorkas-texas-immigration-policies/The U.S. Homeland Security Secretary specifically called out the state’s policy of busing migrants to cities in other parts of the country.By Uriel J. GarcíaFri, 06 Sep 2024 19:27:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/06/alejandro-mayorkas-texas-immigration-policies/Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, speaks about border issues with Laura Barrón-López, correspondent for PBS News Hour, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, TX on Sept. 6, 2024.Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, speaks about border issues with Laura Barrón-López, correspondent for PBS News Hour, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, TX on Sept. 6, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/18/texas-national-guard-border-migrants-pepper-ball-guns/Migrants in Mexico said they’ve been shot by the rounds, which leave bruises and disperse a chemical irritant. The state says Guard members are trained not to aim directly at people.By Alejandro Serrano and Uriel J. GarcíaTue, 18 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/18/texas-national-guard-border-migrants-pepper-ball-guns/A Texas National Guard soldier holding a pepper ball launcher monitors the concertina wire along the border in El Paso that migrants must cross to surrender to Border Patrol in El Paso, on June 1, 2024.Texas National Guard soldiers check concertina wire fence where migrants must cross through to turn themselves into Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico on June 1, 2024.Paul Ratje for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/17/texas-el-paso-migrant-shelter-hearing-annunciation-house/Texas argues that Annunciation House is breaking state law by harboring undocumented immigrants, something the shelter's lawyers called "utter nonsense."By Uriel J. GarcíaMon, 17 Jun 2024 13:32:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/06/17/texas-el-paso-migrant-shelter-hearing-annunciation-house/Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, speaks at a press conference on Feb 23, 2024. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the migrant shelter for allegedly operating a stash house and human trafficking. Annunciation House has been providing aid and shelter to migrants in El Paso for decades.Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, speaks at a press conference on Feb 23, 2024. Earlier this week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, announced a lawsuit against the migrant shelter Annunciation House for allegedly operating a stash house and human trafficking. Annunciation House has been providing aid and shelter to migrants in El Paso for more than 40 years.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/10/texas-border-el-paso-migrants-mass-arrests/Two different groups surged through an El Paso border gate. An El Paso judge has twice thrown out the resulting criminal charges.By Alejandro Serrano and Uriel J. GarcíaFri, 10 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/10/texas-border-el-paso-migrants-mass-arrests/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/07/texas-immigrant-houston-green-card-ban-10-years/Claudia González was 15 when she crossed the border into Texas to reunite with her mother. Now she’s back in Mexico, separated from her 15-year-old son and her husband in Houston.By Uriel J. GarcíaTue, 07 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/07/texas-immigrant-houston-green-card-ban-10-years/Claudia González, 36, worships at her church in Tamaulipas, México on Sept. 17, 2023. After living in Texas for two decades and receiving a work permit through DACA, she applied for her green card, hoping to become a legal permanent U.S. resident.Claudia González, 36, worships at her church in Tamaulipas, México on Sept. 17, 2023. After living in Texas for two decades and receiving a work permit through DACA, she applied for her green card, hoping to become a legal permanent U.S. resident.Verónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/29/texas-voting-el-paso-low-turnout/Across this border city, which sees some of the state’s lowest voter turnout, many residents either didn’t know there was an election in March or had reasons for avoiding the polls.By Uriel J. GarcíaFri, 29 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/29/texas-voting-el-paso-low-turnout/Jorge Trujillo outside of the Memorial Park Senior Citizen Center vote center in El Paso on March 5, 2024.Jorge Trujillo outside of the Memorial Park Senior Citizen Center vote center in El Paso on March 5, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/20/texas-immigration-law-court-hearing/The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments about whether to allow back into effect a law allowing state and local authorities to deport migrants.By Uriel J. GarcíaWed, 20 Mar 2024 13:45:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/20/texas-immigration-law-court-hearing/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/19/texas-sb-4-illegal-immigration/Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court had allowed Senate Bill 4 to go into effect, a federal appeals court let an earlier injunction stand. SB 4 lets Texas police arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border.By Alejandro Serrano and Uriel J. GarcíaTue, 19 Mar 2024 23:13:18 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/19/texas-sb-4-illegal-immigration/Migrants walk along the Rio Grande past recently installed buoys in Eagle Pass, Texas on July 29, 2023.Migrants walk along the Rio Grande passed the recently installed buoys in Eagle Pass, Texas on July 29, 2023. As there is concertina wire installed along the Urbina’s property, migrants are told to walk to the end of the property. Many make that walk which can be difficult to do through slippery rocks in the water, the current and the inclined river bank, while some find spots through the concertina wire and manage to get through. Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas TribuneVerónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/19/texas-illegal-immigration-supreme-court-sb-4/The ruling allows Texas to start enforcing SB 4 while a lawsuit over its constitutionality remains pending before a federal appeals court.By Uriel J. García and Alejandro SerranoTue, 19 Mar 2024 13:56:44 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/19/texas-illegal-immigration-supreme-court-sb-4/The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Texas to start enforcing Senate Bill 4, a new state law that allows Texas police to charge people with illegally entering the state from other countries. The federal government argued that the law is unconstitutional because enforcing immigration laws is a federal responsibility.The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 4, 2022.Jason Garza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/13/texas-border-barrier-funds-biden/A judge’s ruling is the latest development in an ongoing border enforcement battle between Texas and the president.By Uriel J. GarcíaWed, 13 Mar 2024 12:28:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/13/texas-border-barrier-funds-biden/Border wall construction resumes near the Eli Jackson Cemetery in Pharr on March 21, 2022.Border wall construction resumes near the Eli Jackson Cemetery in Pharr on March 21, 2022. In 2020, Congress exempted the cemetery from border wall construction, but it has started once again and is near completion.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/11/texas-migrant-shelter-investigation/The judge questioned Paxton’s true motives to investigate the shelter, saying there is “a real and credible concern” the state has a predetermined goal of shutting down Annunciation House.By Uriel J. GarcíaMon, 11 Mar 2024 11:40:17 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/11/texas-migrant-shelter-investigation/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/ken-paxton-immigration-lawsuit/The Trump-appointed judge has previously ruled against the Biden administration in other immigration-related lawsuits brought by Texas. This time, he said, Texas has no standing to sue.By Uriel J. GarcíaFri, 08 Mar 2024 17:45:51 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/ken-paxton-immigration-lawsuit/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/texas-el-paso-migrant-shelter-investigation-hearing-judge/The judge will make a ruling soon on whether Annunciation House is obligated to release all the documents the attorney general’s office has demanded.By Uriel J. GarcíaThu, 07 Mar 2024 16:05:06 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/texas-el-paso-migrant-shelter-investigation-hearing-judge/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-sb4-illegal-immigration-law-5th-circuit-court-ruling/Senate Bill 4 would allow Texas police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border.By Uriel J. García and William MelhadoMon, 04 Mar 2024 10:25:35 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-sb4-illegal-immigration-law-5th-circuit-court-ruling/National Guard members tell migrants that they cannot cross the concertina wire barrier and must to walk to another area to surrender to authorities in Eagle Pass on July 29, 2023.National Guard members tell migrants that they cannot cross through that area and that they need to walk until the end of the property to turn themselves in Eagle Pass, Texas on July 29, 2023. As there is concertina wire installed along the Urbina’s property, migrants are told to walk to the end of the property. Many make that walk which can be difficult to do through slippery rocks in the water, the current and the inclined river bank, while some find spots through the concertina wire and manage to get through. Some will be sent back after being arrested for trespassing private property without allowing them to go through the immigration process in the U.S. Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas TribuneVerónica Gabriela Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-arrest-migrant-illegal-senate-bill-4-blocked/Senate Bill 4 was Texas’ latest attempt to deter people from crossing the Texas-Mexico border amid a surge in migration.By Uriel J. GarcíaThu, 29 Feb 2024 10:38:01 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-arrest-migrant-illegal-senate-bill-4-blocked/Migrants traverse the bank of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 19, 2024. A federal judge on Thursday blocked.Migrants traverse the bank of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 19, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-border-trump-biden-immigration/Immigration is a driving issue in the almost-certain presidential rematch between the Democratic incumbent and ousted Republican.By Uriel J. García and Madaleine RubinThu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-border-trump-biden-immigration/Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump, left, visited Eagle Pass on Thursday, while President Joe Biden appeared in Brownsville as the two candidates prepare for a likely rematch in the November election.President Joe Biden gives remarks during a visit to Brownsville on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune