In a letter to U.S. congressional leaders, the governor blamed previous border security policy for leaving Texas “defenseless,” forcing state officials to spend billions.

The U.S. immigration system is complex, consisting of various laws, policies, and programs. Here’s what to know about immigration under a second Trump administration.

Some Texas lawmakers including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick slammed the Biden administration over the auction of wall materials. But the sale was directed by Congress —and Texas has already bought some of it.

President-elect Donald Trump often said during the 2024 presidential campaign that he planned to use an obscure 18th-century law called the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to carry out the nation’s largest-ever mass deportation operation ever. Why bother dusting off a 226-year-old law? Because the law lets presidents bypass immigration courts.

Over the last two years, an unknown number of violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua prison gang members illegally entered the United States. Police records and official law enforcement statements confirm TdA-linked crime and arrests have occurred in 22 U.S. states.

A recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents. Texas, Florida make up nearly a third of the nation’s population increase.

The mass deportations of immigrants that President-elect Donald Trump has promised aren’t likely to make a dent in the nation’s housing crisis, many experts say, despite what he and his supporters claimed during his campaign. Not only is the link between mass deportation and housing availability tenuous at best, but mass deportation may likely result in far fewer homes being built.

Groups are urging the state’s estimated 1.6 million undocumented migrants to prepare financially and make plans for their loved ones if they’re detained.

Volha Charnysh’s new book examines refugees and state-building in Germany and Poland after World War II, as new residents spurred economic and civic growth.