Visitors at Texas' Big Bend National Park look toward the Rio Grande separating Mexico and the United States on Feb. 22, 2025.

$1.7 billion contract awarded ‘for border wall in Big Bend’ amid public confusion over plans

The contract comes just a week after Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said the agency would not build a wall in Big Bend National Park.

by Ayden Runnels May 16, 2026May 16, 2026

A Laredo Police Department officer at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo on Feb. 17, 2023.

Texas News

Parts of Texas immigration law are likely unconstitutional, federal judge signals

The law, which gives state law enforcement and judges a role in immigration enforcement, is set to go into effect in two days.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

Two men from Venezuela and Mexico are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials after their court hearings on June 10, 2025, in Houston. Two men from Venezuela and Mexico are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials after their court hearings on June 10, 2025, in Houston

San Antonio News

For Texas GOP, immigration politics show signs of fading potency

Texas voters have listed immigration and border security among their top issues for years, but recent polling found they are less of a priority than at any point in recent history.

by Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

Veronica Viera drives to pick up her children from school in Houston on April 26, 2026. A DACA recipient and mother of four children, Viera had her commercial license revoked late last year and is now finding work as an Uber driver.

Texas News

Texas took their licenses. Now these immigrant truckers face lost livelihoods, sense of betrayal

Texas was among the first states to heed Trump administration directives to revoke commercial driver’s licenses from some immigrants as a safety measure.

By Colleen De Guzman and Alex NguyenMay 11, 2026May 11, 2026

Texas News

Deported South Texas DACA recipient returned to U.S. freed after detainment

José Contreras Díaz, 30, was deported by ICE despite having valid DACA status. ICE returned him to the U.S. but detained him on April 29 after he landed in Texas.

by Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

Rena Schroeder poses for a portrait on her ranch where she runs an equine learning nonprofit and cares for rescue livestock in Lott on May 4, 2026.

Texas News

Texas Republicans have a data center problem

Data center construction is unpopular among locals, and a majority of the facilities are being proposed in red, rural counties. That puts Texas Republicans in a tough spot, as the White House has encouraged states to let the centers flourish.

By Taylor GoldensteinMay 7, 2026May 7, 2026

A photo of best friends Joshua Orta and Ruben Ray Martinez at Orta’s grave in San Antonio on April 16, 2026. Orta died in a car accident in February. He was a passenger in the same car when ICE shot and killed Martinez in South Padre Island a year earlier.

San Antonio News

How the unreported killing of an American by ICE shattered two San Antonio families

Josh Orta was the sole witness of Ruben Martinez’s death to dispute the government’s account. Months later, he died in a crash after learning an ICE agent killed his friend. Their mothers blame the government for their loss.

by Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Under pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott, Houston, Austin and Dallas have changed policies on how police officers handle ICE warrants.

Texas News

ICE warrants were central to Abbott’s immigration dispute with Texas cities. Here’s how they work.

Unlike criminal warrants, ICE administrative warrants don’t require approval from an independent judge. ICE defends the practice, but legal experts say they can have errors and risk wrongful detention.

by Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune May 3, 2026May 3, 2026

The SpaceX Starship is seen on its launch pad from the shore of Boca Chica Beach ahead of its 10th flight test on the morning of Aug. 24, 2025.

Texas News

South Texas residents suing SpaceX over alleged home damage

The lawsuit filed by 80 plaintiffs Thursday accuse Elon Musk’s company of gross negligence and trespassing for loud blasts from 11 rocket tests.

by Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune May 1, 2026May 1, 2026

A Laredo storefront displays “store closing” signs across its windows on April 9, 2026. Business owners say the distance between open stores has made it harder to attract consistent foot traffic.

Texas News

Once thriving, Laredo’s growth stalls under Trump’s immigration crackdown

The city’s economic growth has taken a dip, falling short of expectations amid a steep decline in international migration, among other factors.

by Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune May 1, 2026May 1, 2026

rawing created by a member of Hayam El Gamal’s family. The family was re-arrested on Saturday after being freed on April 23.

San Antonio News

ICE releases El Gamal family after re-arresting mother and 5 children, attorney says

A plane carrying the family to Michigan was reportedly on its way back to Colorado after a Texas federal judge ordered a halt to their deportation following his ruling that they be released.

by Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

The border wall cuts across a stretch of land.

Texas News

Trump’s new tool to speed up wall construction may be a trap for Texas landowners

The administration is using a new kind of ‘right-of-entry’ request that allows building earlier in the legal process. Property owners could be signing away more than they realize, attorneys say.

by Jason Buch, The Texas Observer April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

A drawing created by a member of Hayam El Gamal’s family. The family was re-arrested after freed earlier this week.

San Antonio News

Federal judges order pause of Egyptian family’s deportation after ICE re-arrested

A federal plane carrying the family to Michigan was reportedly on its way back to Colorado after a Texas federal judge ordered a halt to their deportation following his ruling that the family be released.

by Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica April 26, 2026April 26, 2026

Texas News

Judges in every Texas border county urge White House transparency on border wall

County Judges representing the entire Texas-Mexico border are urging the feds to communicate with local officials on border wall plans, which so far have changed drastically without notice.

by Stephanie Koithan April 24, 2026April 24, 2026

Gov. Greg Abbott shows off his best beady-eyed squint at the 2024 Republican Convention.

Assclown Alert

Assclown Alert: Starting a gerrymandering bar fight — and losing — with Gov. Greg Abbott

Texas’ governor fired the first shot in the redistricting war, but he’s sure not looking like a winner.

by Sanford Nowlin April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform.

Texas News

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Democratic donor platform ActBlue

Paxton alleges ActBlue allows improper donations from people outside the United States and those who have already hit the mandated donor limit.

by Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a conservative conference.

Assclown Alert

Assclown Alert: Pretending to root out Medicaid fraud with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Paxton’s announcement isn’t about protecting taxpayers or rooting out Medicaid fraud. Once again, it’s political posturing.

by Sanford Nowlin April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Texas News

As Republican panic builds over James Talarico, operatives set up Stop Talarico PAC

The PAC was created the same day the Texas Democrat’s U.S. Senate campaign broke a fundraising record by hauling in $27 million over the first quarter.

by Sanford Nowlin April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Meenu Batra was detained by ICE in March.

Texas News

Longtime immigration court interpreter arrested by ICE at South Texas airport

The state’s only licensed Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu legal interpreter is now languishing in a Raymondville detention center. She’s lived in America for 35 years.

By Gaige Davila, The Texas Observer April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

News

Trump ‘very much interested’ in appointing Ted Cruz to U.S. Supreme Court

Trump is reportedly eyeing the far-right Senator from Texas as a replacement for Justice Samuel Alito, should the 76-year-old retire before the midterms.

by Michael Karlis April 15, 2026April 15, 2026