“I thought he was going to kill me”: Migrants say return of Trump-era border policy will put asylum seekers in danger
A Cuban woman sent to Ciudad Juárez after seeking asylum in El Paso was raped as she waited for her U.S. court date. She worries more migrants could be victims of violence as the Biden administration revives the "remain in Mexico" program.
Hundreds of migrants accused of trespassing languish in Texas prisons. A county judge’s new approach might prolong their detention.
Despite a surge of arrests under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security initiative, a Kinney County judge removed three judges who have been helping him hear the cases. The judges had been letting some of the migrants out after months in prison, and defense attorneys say the action is retaliatory.
The number of undocumented immigrants in detention centers has increased by more than 50% since Biden took office
A Texas construction worker who’s been locked up for 11 months is one of an increasing number of undocumented immigrants detained since Biden took office — despite the president’s instructions to prioritize more dangerous immigrants.
Coronavirus shuts down legal proceedings in latest misstep for Texas border crackdown
Migrants arrested under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security push have been imprisoned for weeks or months waiting to appear before a judge. About 90 were finally to receive hearings this week, but court proceedings were canceled.
Among El Pasoans, Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial run excites loyal fans and revives longtime grudges
El Pasoans who have followed O’Rourke’s political career are excited about his run for governor. But his critics still remember his support of a development plan that could have displaced Mexican American residents from one of the city’s oldest barrios.
Congressional Democrats ask feds to investigate whether Texas migrant arrests violate constitutional rights
Under a Gov. Greg Abbott initiative, more than 1,600 migrants have been arrested for allegedly trespassing on private property after crossing the Texas-Mexico border. The arrests and subsequent imprisonment of the migrants have led to state law violations and constitutional concerns.
After months of store closures and layoffs, border businesses eager to welcome back Mexican customers Nov. 8
For 19 months, business owners along the Texas-Mexico border have seen a drastic drop in customers because of COVID-19 travel restrictions. With land borders scheduled to reopen Nov. 8, they are banking on a return to pre-pandemic sales.
Texas prosecutor drops charges after migrants claim they were marched to private property, then arrested for trespassing
The Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol insist the 11 men, arrested under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border initiative, weren’t set up for trespassing charges. But a county attorney decided the case was too muddled to prosecute.
After delay, Texas to begin releasing migrants held in violation of state law under Gov. Greg Abbott’s border crackdown
The almost 250 detained men, whose immediate release was ordered three days ago, are expected to be turned over to federal authorities to be detained again, deported or freed in the United States while their cases are being resolved.
‘We suffered a lot to get here’: A Haitian migrant’s harrowing journey to the Texas-Mexico border
After witnessing fellow migrants swept away in a Central American river and a sexual assault by armed men, one man wants to put the traumatic journey in the past and find stability for his family in Ohio.
KPRC 2 crew shares what they are seeing along the Texas-Mexico border
From KPRC 2 investigative reporter Robert Arnold: We saw several people crossing back and forth between Mexico and the United States. Several immigrants told us they were staying in he camp on the Texas side but would come back to Mexico to gather donated supplies to bring back to the Texas. We saw people carrying food, water and personal hygiene products across. We did see DPS vehicles and what appeared to be Guardsmen on the Texas side of the river, making sure those who crossed did not go beyond the confines of the Texas camp.
Braulio Fernandez Ecological Park, Ciudad Acuña
From KPRC 2 investigative reporter Robert Arnold: At the camp, hundreds of families could be seen living in tents, sleeping bags, and under tarps tied to trees. People were even seen on the roof of a one story park building. Medicos sin Fronteras (Doctors without Borders) had a truck there for medical aid and Cruz Roja (Red Cross) was also there. We saw the Promise Land church show up with a truckload of personal hygiene products and there were other people in the camp cooking food for the migrants. Many said they are still hopeful they can remain in the United States. One man did say after spending two nights in the Texas camp, he came back to Mexico and will likely wind up staying there and looking for work. One thing I think is important to point out, many of the Haitian migrants who walked across the border were already living in Central and South America, some for years. Many said jobs dried up where they were and they realized their home country wasn’t getting better. There has been a political assassination and an earthquake just this year. These individuals are referred to as part of the Haitian Diaspora. This is anecdotal but many decided this summer to come to the U.S. so they tried to get as much money as they could and then coordinated travel with others.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s closure of Del Rio bridge disrupts businesses and jobs on Texas side of the U.S.-Mexico border
Federal officials have halted traffic so they can process thousands of Haitian migrants seeking asylum. The closure has made it difficult for the Texas city’s binational employees and business owners to keep normal operations going.
Options shrink for Haitian migrants straddling Texas border
Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a press conference to discuss the situation in Del Rio on Tuesday. The governor will be joined by Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw, Texas Military Department adjutant Gen. Tracy Norris, and National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd.
Border patrol agents criticized for treatment of Haitian migrants in Del Rio as U.S. tries to dissuade more from coming
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned would-be migrants that “your journey will not succeed” and promised to investigate the actions of mounted agents at the Rio Grande.