https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/The latest news by Uriel J. García.enFri, 29 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://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 Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-border-shelters-ken-paxton-annunciation-house-catholic-charities/For years, conservative religious groups and Texas politicians have accused groups housing newly-arrived migrants of encouraging, and profiting from, illegal immigration.By Uriel J. García and William MelhadoThu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/texas-border-shelters-ken-paxton-annunciation-house-catholic-charities/Migrants wait inside an Annunciation House shelter after leaving immigration court on Aug. 23, 2022, in El Paso.Migrants wait inside a local migrant shelter, Annunciation House, after leaving immigration court, Tuesday, August 23, 2022, in El Paso.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/23/texas-el-paso-migrant-shelter-annunciation-house-ken-paxton-threat/Paxton’s office demanded records of migrants that Annunciation House has helped and threatened to shut down the Catholic shelter network.By Uriel J. GarcíaFri, 23 Feb 2024 16:12:19 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/23/texas-el-paso-migrant-shelter-annunciation-house-ken-paxton-threat/Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, speaks at a press conference about Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit against the shelter network.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/2024/02/16/texas-border-national-guard-base-eagle-pass/Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that the base will hold up to 2,300 soldiers who have been deployed to the border.By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune, and Davis Winkie, Military TimesFri, 16 Feb 2024 14:38:23 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/16/texas-border-national-guard-base-eagle-pass/Gov. Greg Abbott arrives at a press conference with other state elected official at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 4, 2024. On Friday Abbott announced the state will build a base camp for National Guard members in Eagle Pass.Gov. Greg Abbott arrives at a press conference with several other states leadership at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Feb. 04, 2024.Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/15/texas-immigration-law-sb4-border-court-hearing/An Austin judge will decide whether Senate Bill 4 will go into effect on March 5. The new law allows police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the border.By Uriel J. García and Pooja SalhotraThu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/15/texas-immigration-law-sb4-border-court-hearing/Migrants speak with a state trooper on the banks of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 19, 2024.Migrants speak with a State Trooper at the bank of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 19, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/border-el-paso-fbi-investigation/A Tennessee man arrested Monday hoped to travel to the southern border with a militia group that allegedly plotted to go “to war with the border patrol,” believing that the country was being invaded by migrants.By Uriel J. García and William MelhadoWed, 07 Feb 2024 22:55:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/border-el-paso-fbi-investigation/Shipping containers line the bank of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 19.Shipping containers line the bank of the Rio Grande at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 19, 2024.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/texas-human-smuggling-law-minimum-sentence/Senate Bill 4 bumps the minimum sentence from two years to 10 years for human smuggling or operating a stash house.By Uriel J. GarcíaTue, 06 Feb 2024 14:11:34 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/texas-human-smuggling-law-minimum-sentence/Jesus Vasquez, originally from Honduras, lights candles at a makeshift memorial to the 53 people who died after human smugglers left them in a truck trailer outside San Antonio on hot day in June 2022. A new state law increases the minimum sentence for those convicted of human smuggling.Jesus Vasquez, originally from Honduras, lights candles at a makeshift memorial to the 53 people who died after being left in a truck trailer in a human smuggling operation, on June 30, 2022 outside San Antonio.Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/30/texas-border-eagle-pass-standoff-secession/The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long-simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures.By Robert Downen and Uriel J. GarcíaTue, 30 Jan 2024 14:26:20 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/30/texas-border-eagle-pass-standoff-secession/A Texas National Guard Humvee parked at the gates of Shelby Park, in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 16, 2024. Texas closed off Shelby Park, limiting access to federal agents to part of the Texas-Mexico border and escalating tensions between the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott.A Texas National Guard humvee parked at the gates of Shelby Park, in Eagle Pass, on Jan. 16, 2024. Texas has closed off Shelby Park, cutting access to federal agents to part of the Texas-Mexico border and escalating tensions between the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/texas-border-wire-supreme-court/Texas officers are still erecting border wire and some Republicans are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to defy the high court.By Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune, and Davis Winkie, Military TimesWed, 24 Jan 2024 12:15:26 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/texas-border-wire-supreme-court/A Texas National Guard member walks past a line of buoys in Eagle Pass on Jan. 17, 2024. The U.S. Department of Justice, in a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court, stated that U.S. Border Patrol agents have been blocked off of a section of the border, accessible through Shelby Park.A Texas National Guard member walks past a line of buoys in Eagle Pass on Jan. 17, 2024. The U.S. Department of Justice, in a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court, stated that U.S. Border Patrol agents have been blocked off of a section of the border, accessible through Shelby Park.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-patrol-immigration-enforcement-eagle-pass-park/A park on the Rio Grande is the new focus of a long battle over border enforcement that’s reached the U.S. Supreme Court.By Uriel J. GarcíaMon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-border-patrol-immigration-enforcement-eagle-pass-park/A group of migrants wades through the Rio Grande under the watch of Texas National Guard members near the riverbank at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 19, 2024. Texas has closed off Shelby Park, cutting access to federal agents to part of the Texas-Mexico border, according to a federal legal filing. The situation is escalating tensions between the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott.A group of migrants wades through the Rio Grande under the watch of Texas National Guard members near the riverbank at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Jan. 19, 2024. Texas has closed off Shelby Park, cutting access to federal agents to part of the Texas-Mexico border, according to a federal legal filing. The situation is escalating tensions between the Biden administration and Gov. Greg Abbott.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune