Politics
This Week: Texans’ Health Under Attack by Republican Lawmakers
Controversial ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Ban Headed to Texas Governor’s Desk, Will Likely Become Law
“I’m afraid that this legislation will lead to harassment and profiling of Latinos, especially our children,” said Senator Sylvia Garcia.
Senate Bill 4, the controversial “sanctuary cities” ban, is on its way to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk — where it’s almost certain to be signed into la...Read More
Seize the Trumpportunity! President Offers Both Parties Chance to Reinvent Themselves
Democrats and Republicans should treat this new administration as a soul-searching opportunity to return to their principles.
I remember the first time I wrote a letter to John Cornyn, probably 10 years ago. The issue was abortion, and I asked the senator to consider the possibility th...Read More
Anti-Abortion Lawmakers (Almost All Men) Are Worried Time is Running Out on Their Bills
With less than a month left in the legislative session, anti-abortion lawmakers are worried their priority bills will not pass in time. And they say fellow Repu...Read More
Video: 24 Arrested After Eight-Hour SB 4 Protest at Texas Governor’s Office
Protesters were charged with a Class B misdemeanor and released to a crowd of cheering supporters.
In wake of the ‘Show Me Your Papers’ bill, Texans take to the state Capitol for International Workers’ Day. ...Read More
Legislature Plans to Close Four Correctional Facilities. Will They Become Immigrant Detention Centers?
Many see the closures as a step in the right direction, but some advocates worry what the empty prisons could mean for immigrant detention.
Lawmakers, agency heads and policy advocates alike see this as a “step in the right direction,” but some worry what empty prisons could mean for immigrant d...Read More
This Week: ‘Show Me Your Papers’ and ‘Baby Jail’ Bills Advance
Tears, protests and hate filled the Texas House during a marathon debate on anti-immigrant 'sanctuary cities' legislation this week.
Keep up with the Observer’s sharp reporting on the Legislature and throughout Texas with this weekly newsletter. The Texas House jumped off a political cl...Read More
Joe Straus and the House Moderates Could’ve Stopped the ‘Show Me Your Papers’ Bill
Who's to blame for Senate Bill 4? For my money, there is no better place to start than Speaker Joe Straus and the so-called moderates in the Texas House.
Many believed it wouldn’t happen, but on Thursday, the Texas House passed legislation that in spirit and letter is awfully similar to SB 1070, the “show me ...Read More
‘Sanctuary Cities’ Bill Attacks Immigrants Who Made ‘Texas Miracle’ Possible
The Texas Miracle would have been impossible without cheap undocumented labor. But now the Legislature is ready to kick immigrants out.
The Texas Miracle would have been impossible without cheap undocumented labor. But now the Legislature is ready to kick immigrants out....Read More
Abortion-Rights Advocates are Really Worried About Texas’ ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Ban
SB 4 will scare more immigrants away from accessing reproductive health care, critics say.
Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, Nancy Cárdenas Peña often worried that her undocumented parents wouldn’t make it home. She feared being pulled over by ...Read More