If House Democrats unexpectedly end up winning a jackpot of new seats in ruby red Texas, they might have some unlikely people to thank: the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature, GOP Rep. Joe Barton, and, oddly enough, newly announced GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry. Continue »
A scathing editorial today in the Washington Post blasts the Republican Party's "scare tactics" on border security and calls out Senator John Cornyn for trying "to have it both ways." The conclusion notes that by promoting "myths" about border security, "politicians perpetuate both a lie and the national disgrace... Continue »
Last week, Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) created a firestorm when the agency unilaterally ended all of its Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) related to the Secure Communities (S-Comm) program. ICE announced that the program will be mandatory, and it has caused an intense backlash among immigration advocates. Continue »
Anyone who wondered why America's Voice gave Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) the "hypocrite of the year" award in January only had to watch his performance at last week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the DREAM Act. His "performance" was filled with misinformation, cynicism and demagoguery. Continue »
The Texas Senate adjourned this week without a final vote on the "Sanctuary Cities" legislation that was one of Gov. Rick Perry's "emergency" items at the start of the year. The bill, which became an umbrella for a package of harsh immigration measures, crumbled during a 30-day special session... Continue »
Arizona may have opened the door for states looking to plunge into the enforcement of federal immigration policy but political analysts throughout the country say Texas will set the bar. Texas lawmakers this week will vote on legislation that allows local law enforcement to question the immigration status of... Continue »
From the testimony of a Houston police officer's widow to allegations of racism, a daylong legislative committee hearing Monday on a bill banning "sanctuary cities" brought the national immigration debate back to the Texas Capitol. Continue »
News Taco reports that Tea Party leader and founder of the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas, Rebecca Forest, stated that Hispanic legislators are the reason enough anti-immigration legislation hasn't passed this legislative season. Her solution to the "problem?" Get rid of them. Continue »
Gov. Rick Perry added immigration legislation to the special session's agenda on Tuesday, including a measure that would remove local law enforcement agencies' ability to make immigration violations a lower priority. Continue »
In his state of the state speech in February, Gov. Rick Perry declared, "We must establish criminal penalties for employers who knowingly hire workers who are here in violation of immigration law." Tough words, but said with a wink and a nod. Continue »