Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) personnel met with national, state and city officials to discuss improvements to the roadways in Pleasanton back in June at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Jeanne Israel (Councilmember, District 6). Discussed were the need for traffic lights, streetlights, turning lanes, crosswalks, sidewalks, rehabilitating intersections and amending the truck… Read more »

Texas Tribune: Congressional Inaction Leaves Border Communities Hoping for Funds Congress left towns and counties on the Texas-Mexico border hanging last week when it adjourned without sending a supplemental budget measure to the president. The local governments have used their own resources since last spring to care for thousands of undocumented immigrants flooding into their… Read more »

WOAI: Dynamic of Immigration Crisis Changing as Shelters Close Posted Tuesday, August 5th 2014 @ 6am The closing of shelters for illegal immigrant unaccompanied minor children at Lackland Air Force Base and elsewhere show the changing dynamics of the months long border crossing crisis, officials tell News Radio 1200 WOAI.   U.S. Rep Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), who has been a leader… Read more »

Texas Dem. warns partisan battle over border aid 'could be just a warmup' U.S. Border Patrol agents load a group of adult and minor immigrants onto a van near Anzalduas Park, southwest of McAllen, on June 11. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar warned agencies dealing with the border influx will have to make "some painful choices" since Congress didn't pass a bill to send them aid before it went to… Read more »

Tonight, the House of Representatives passed border supplemental funding that gives state and local governments and law enforcement affected by the current border crisis the opportunity to apply for reimbursements.  Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) worked to include this provision in the bill and last week sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee and the Federal Emergency… Read more »

Dems criticize 'lawless' Texas militias By Mike Lillis - 08/01/14 09:18 AM EDT Texas Democrats are pushing back against armed militias gathering at the southern border. In a letter to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the lawmakers warn that the presence of the vigilantes — many clad in military-style fatigues and carrying assault rifles — will only exacerbate the problems facing… Read more »

Do something The U.S. Capitol Building stands in Washington, D.C., U.S., before sunrise on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Democrats in Congress are trying again to prevent the federal government from awarding contracts to companies that save taxes by moving their legal addresses outside the U.S. So-called inversions are transactions in which a U.S. company shifts its legal address to a country… Read more »

En vez de tropas, buscar una reforma migratoria Mesa Editorial del Austin American - Statesman El gobernador Perry anunció el lunes 21 que enviaría hasta mil soldados de la Guardia Nacional a la frontera para aliviar la presión sobre los agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza que luchan para contener una avalancha de familias centroamericanas y menores no acompañados que cruzan a… Read more »

Do border apprehensions drop during the summer? July 31, 2014 | Updated: July 31, 2014 7:58pm DAMIAN DOVARGANES, AP In recent weeks, the White House has cited a drop in the number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border as possible evidence that its efforts to stem the influx of Central Americans are working.   Shortly before Gov. Rick Perry announced last week he was… Read more »

Following Rep. Cuellar’s letter last week to the Appropriations Committee requesting reimbursements for local communities, the Appropriations Committee today introduced legislation to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border that provides the ability for local governments to apply for reimbursement.  “I thank Chairman Hal Rogers, Chairman John Carter, and the Committee… Read more »