Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s push to ban THC in Texas draws rare backlash from the right

It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune June 10, 2025July 22, 2025

News

Months after detaining 47 people accused of being Tren de Aragua in Austin, authorities offer no evidence of gang ties

People at the raided house say they rented it for a birthday party and deny any connection to the gang. One man says law enforcement accused him of being in Tren de Aragua because of his tattoo.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune June 7, 2025June 11, 2025

News

Texas may study the impact of immigration again, but focus only on costs

The only time the state conducted such an assessment two decades ago, it found that undocumented Texans contributed more to the state’s economy than they cost the state.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune April 22, 2025July 30, 2025

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As Trump vows mass deportations, Texas lawmakers want to require sheriffs to work with ICE

Some sheriffs worried that Senate Bill 8 could create an unfunded mandate, while civil rights advocates warned about possible racial profiling.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune March 18, 2025May 28, 2025

The South Texas Family Residential Center, an immigrant detention center in Dilley, about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio, holds migrant families facing deportation.

News

Feds are opening more detention centers in Texas as Trump administration steps up deportations

The feds are adding thousands of beds to hold families in Texas, which reportedly holds the most immigrants of any state at its 21 detention centers.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune March 14, 2025May 28, 2025

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Trump administration removes five immigration judges in Texas, union says

The move raises concerns about large case backlogs that have persisted for years.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune February 28, 2025May 30, 2025

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Gov. Abbott orders TEA probe of Houston school for calling a student by chosen name and pronouns

The governor also called on lawmakers to prohibit the practice at all schools.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune February 17, 2025February 22, 2025

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An immigrant faces deportation after a routine traffic stop in Texas, sparking more fear

Advocates worry that rapidly shifting federal and state immigration initiatives will prompt more city police to funnel migrants without criminal records to federal agents.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune January 30, 2025February 4, 2025

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U.S. Senate investigation of migrant child’s death finds poor medical care at border protection facilities

The Senate Judiciary Committee launched its investigation following the 2023 death of an 8-year-old girl at a facility in Harlingen.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune January 25, 2025January 29, 2025

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Texas Supreme Court to decide legal battle over El Paso migrant shelter’s future

Justices on Monday heard arguments from Annunciation House, which is fighting to stay open, and the Texas Attorney General’s office, which claims the shelter’s work with migrants violates state law.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune January 13, 2025May 30, 2025

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Texas offers Starr County ranch to Trump for mass deportation plans

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said the state’s recently purchased 1,400-acre ranch could be used as a deportation hub.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune November 20, 2024December 19, 2024

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‘Uncharted territory’: Trump’s anti-immigration plans could take center stage in Texas

Texas is positioned better than any state to help Trump carry out his ambitious anti-immigration agenda. But it is also vulnerable to those policy’s impacts.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune November 7, 2024February 3, 2025

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Eagle Pass residents rally to have state return Shelby Park

Residents say they can no longer access the park after the state seized it against the city’s wishes in January.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune September 30, 2024October 3, 2024

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Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violations

The request by the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to the Department of Justice follows a similar request by a Latino civil rights organization.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune August 31, 2024July 4, 2025

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Warrants detail allegations that led to search of Democratic candidate for Texas House

The Texas attorney general’s office searched the home of Cecilia Castellano and a Democratic legislative aide. It said it’s investigating vote harvesting. Activists called it ‘intimidation.’

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune August 25, 2024October 7, 2024

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Judge rejects Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to shut down Houston immigrant rights group

Paxton’s office claimed the group broke rules prohibiting political activity by nonprofits, but the judge rejected the case outright.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune August 24, 2024July 5, 2025

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Texas’ busing of migrants hits a speed bump as fewer enter country

The bus trips to Democrat-run cities stopped after June as the number of migrants apprehended across the southwest border plummeted.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune August 23, 2024September 7, 2024

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Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Houston immigrants’ rights org over political speech

Attorney General Ken Paxton has targeted similar organizations that aid migrants at the border. The lawsuit appears to be the first to focus on political speech and rules that govern nonprofits.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune August 17, 2024May 30, 2025

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Texas judge orders sheriff, school district to release Uvalde school shooting records

A group of news organizations including The Texas Tribune had sued for access to the records.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune July 16, 2024September 12, 2024

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Eagle Pass residents have mixed feelings about sharing their city with the National Guard

Texas has sent thousands of soldiers to the border as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar initiative Operation Lone Star. No border town has felt their presence more than Eagle Pass.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune July 15, 2024September 30, 2024