Tag Archives: immigration

On welcoming immigrants

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Turner puts out the welcome mat for a key part of Houston’s community. A press conference Monday morning to announce the unveiling of Houston’s Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities evolved into a denunciation by city officials of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

California is the new Texas

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Or will be, as far as litigating against the federal government goes. Gov. Jerry Brown has tabbed Rep. Xavier Becerra to serve as California’s interim attorney general, selecting the Los Angeles Democrat to fill a vacancy opened by the imminent … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two more lawsuit updates

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The ban on the transgender bathroom rule remains in place pending appeals. Continued lack of access in public schools to bathrooms matching transgender persons’ gender identity won’t cause them irreparable harm, a Texas federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Reed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State moves to withdraw Syrian refugee lawsuit

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good, though at this point it probably doesn’t matter. A week after the state officially withdrewfrom the nation’s refugee resettlement program, Texas has moved to end its legal battle over Syrian refugees. In a short, three-page motion, Texas on Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State moves to withdraw Syrian refugee lawsuit

SCOTUS rejects reconsideration of immigration ruling

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined the Obama administration’s request to reconsider a controversial immigration program that would have let millions of undocumented immigrants stay in the country legally. The program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Greg Abbott does not speak for all Texans on refugees

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of people are moved to offer assistance to those who most need it. Nonprofits that resettle refugees say volunteer turnout has increased — in some cases dramatically — since Texas Republicans first suggested they threatened security. “It’s one of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

We continue to cower in fear of Syrian refugees

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sheesh. As part of its ongoing fight to keep Syrian refugees out of the state, Texas is threatening to withdraw from the nation’s refugee resettlement program if federal officials refuse to “unconditionally approve” a state plan requiring additional vetting of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

State appeals dismissal of anti-refugee lawsuit

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Because of course it does. Texas is appealing the dismissal of its lawsuit against the federal government and a refugee resettlement agency over the placement of Syrian refugees in the state. In a notice dated Aug. 12, Texas alerted the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State appeals dismissal of anti-refugee lawsuit

State settles birth certificate lawsuit

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. After undergoing mediation, the state of Texas has reached an agreement with undocumented families in a lawsuit over its denial to issue birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. The state will clarify and expand … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State settles birth certificate lawsuit

Can we try this again with nine Justices, please?

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t hurt to ask. The Obama administration on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the legality of the president’s controversial immigration enforcement plan, which stalled last month when the high court deadlocked on an appeal. The program, known … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Can we try this again with nine Justices, please?

SCOTUS punts on immigration order

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. ealing a major blow to President Obama’s controversial executive immigration order, the U.S. Supreme Court announced Thursday it had failed to produce a majority opinion on the policy — meaning that the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ November … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State still resisting refugees

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Because of course we are. The federal government wants Texas to accept more than 2,000 additional refugees this year. Texas’ response: No thank you. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is putting the federal government on notice that the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

You support Trump, you own Trump

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This is what I’m talking about. A group of Democratic state lawmakers from along the Texas-Mexico border is applying pressure to a bank whose CEO is helping raise money for Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. In a letter … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hanen stays his sanctions

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Texas-based judge that last year put a hold on President Obama’s executive order on immigration decided on Tuesday to also suspend a controversial punishment he had recently issued to the administration’s attorneys. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen asserted in … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hanen stays his sanctions

Justice Department appeals Hanen sanctions to Fifth Circuit

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this over the weekend. Escalating its constitutional battle with a federal judge over the ethics of government lawyers in the major test case on presidential power over immigration, the Justice Department late Friday night asked a federal appeals court … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Justice Department appeals Hanen sanctions to Fifth Circuit

Groups ask Fifth Circuit to block Judge Hanen order

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. A coalition of civil and immigrant rights groups on Friday asked an appeals court to stop a federal judge’s order that requires the Obama administration to turn over the confidential information of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The filing in … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Elsewhere in the local control follies

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least it’s not about bathrooms. El Paso is billing its effort to provide the indigent and undocumented with new municipal ID cards as a way to enhance public safety and build community. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Elsewhere in the local control follies

Justice Department asks Judge Hanen to reconsider his last order

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t hurt to ask, I guess. The Obama administration has asked a Brownsville-based judge to rethink an order that requires the federal government to turn over the private information of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The May 19 order from U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Justice Department asks Judge Hanen to reconsider his last order

Judge Hanen’s bizarre order

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

WTF? A federal judge with a history of anti-immigrant sentiment ordered the federal government to turn over the names, addresses and “all available contact information” of over 100,000 immigrants living within the United States. He does so in a strange … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Paxton opines on Syrian refugees

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Attorney General Ken Paxton sought Tuesday to bolster the state’s thus-far unsuccessful efforts to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in Texas by issuing a legal opinion that stresses the state’s rights in the matter. His opinion, which doesn’t carry … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Houston Area Survey 2016: Harris County becoming more Democratic

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whoa. A majority of Harris County residents lean Democratic for the first time ever, propelled by plummeting support for Republicans among Latinos, according to a survey released Monday by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. The finding, in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The DAPA arguments at SCOTUS

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to say how this will go. A shorthanded Supreme Court heard a Texas-led challenge against President Barack Obama’s 2014 immigration plan Monday with sharp questions about whether the state could bring the case to begin with and if the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The DAPA arguments at SCOTUS

DAPA’s day at SCOTUS

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another day, another huge Supreme Court case involving Texas, a big policy item from President Obama at stake, and the fate of millions of people hanging in the balance. The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the matter, one of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Immigrant harboring law blocked

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge has blocked part of the state’s omnibus border security bill that makes harboring undocumented immigrants a state crime. Under a provision of House Bill 11, which went into effect in September, a person commits a crime … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Immigrant harboring law blocked

Texas AG files SCOTUS brief against Obama immigration plan

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what he does. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday arguing against President Barack Obama’s plan to shield from deportation nearly 5 million people here illegally and give them temporary work permits. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas AG files SCOTUS brief against Obama immigration plan

More on the rush to naturalization

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib looks at the trend in Texas. Amid a heated presidential election focusing heavily on immigration, a similar uncertainty about the future of immigration policies under a new president appears to be pushing thousands of legal residents in Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Donald Trump is making more citizens

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

He’s good for something. Over all, naturalization applications increased by 11 percent in the 2015 fiscal year over the year before, and jumped 14 percent during the six months ending in January, according to federal figures. The pace is picking … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Turner files amicus brief for Obama’s immigration executive action

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The city of Houston has added its voice to a friend of the court brief in the looming U.S. Supreme Court showdown over President Obama’s late-2014 executive actions on immigration, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Tuesday. Calling the president’s decisions … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Turner files amicus brief for Obama’s immigration executive action

The Scalia effect on current cases

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib highlights a few cases pending before the Supreme Court that could be affected by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Texas abortion law On March 2, the court will hear oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

State strikes out on Syrian refugees again

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Too bad. Now give up already. A federal judge has again denied a bid by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the federal government from resettling Syrian refugees in the state. Dallas-based U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey on … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State strikes out on Syrian refugees again

Some Latino political power trends

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Latino electorate keeps on growing. The Latino electorate is bigger and better-educated than ever before, according to a new report by Pew Research Center. It’s also young. Adults age 18-35 make up nearly half of the record 27.3 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton takes another shot at Syrian refugees

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. In the latest controversy over Syrians seeking refuge in Texas, the state’s top lawyer on Tuesday again asked a federal judge to halt the resettlement of people fleeing the war-torn country. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told a U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton takes another shot at Syrian refugees

MALDEF sues over provision of border bill

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Worth watching. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF, filed suit Sunday against Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw and the Texas Public Safety Commission, which oversees the DPS. The group alleges … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on MALDEF sues over provision of border bill

If the Republicans want to pretend that sanctuary cities exist, they can pretend to do something about it

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s my takeaway from this. At a Senate committee meeting on “sanctuary cities” on Friday, Texas lawmakers strongly disagreed on the prospect of passing legislation that would penalize local law enforcement entities for not complying with federal immigration policies. At … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments