The Perils of Offshoring Justice
Texas and the U.S.-El Salvador prison pipeline
Civil Rights
Trans Texans Are Under Attack (Again), but Advocates Aren’t Giving In
With another legislative session that could pile on even more anti-trans policies, LBGTQ+ groups grapple with how to protect their communities.
Reclaiming ‘Friendship’ Across Borders
In reading U.S.-Mexico treaties, I trip over the word “friendship.” Ostensibly, it's like saying, “We are friends, so I’m taking your land.”
A Houston Storyteller Finds the Humor in Hard Knocks
Bayou City comic Ali Siddiq turns street life and incarceration into laughs, while challenging stereotypes and provoking the occasional tear.
The Fairies Fiasco
The closest I ever got to meeting a real-life fairy was Gene Elder, who wrote and starred in "Fairies Fiasco."
After Hurricane Beryl, Cooling Centers Were Few and Slow to Arrive for Houstonians of Color—Some Died of Heat Exposure
During the power outage following the storm, a shocking lack of support in vulnerable communities reflected a larger breakdown in coordination between the state, CenterPoint Energy, and local governments.
Texas State Police Gear Up for Massive Expansion of Surveillance Tech
DPS plans to spend millions in taxpayer dollars on a controversial software, used first as part of Governor Abbott’s border crackdown, to “disrupt potential domestic terrorism.”
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Observing the Borderlands
As the Texas Observer’s border reporter from 2008 to 2018, Melissa del Bosque investigated corruption and uncovered injustices.
When Summer Heat Hits My Texas Prison
High temperatures and scarce air conditioning cause tempers to flare for prisoners and guards alike.
A Rancher Who Leads a Paramilitary-Style Group Sues Biden over Border Policies
The rancher is joined by a rural Texas sheriff, who has collaborated with vigilantes, in the legal challenge to federal immigration policies.