Hurricane Beryl is likely to hit the Texas coast Monday. Exactly where remains uncertain.
The first-ever storm to reach Category 4 in June weakened to a tropical storm after passing over Mexicoโs Yucatan Peninsula. Itโs expected to reach the Texas coast as a hurricane, forecasters said.
'Risk it all': Migrant surge as US prepares for Title 42 end
A recent surge of migrants in the Brownsville, Texas, area of the U.S.-Mexico border is highlighting immigration challenges as the U.S. prepares for the end of a policy linked to the coronavirus pandemic that allowed it to quickly expel many migrants.
Texas troopers renew inspections of commercial vehicles at Brownsville border bridge, triggering long delays
Truckers have reported waiting up to 24 hours to cross the border because of the inspections. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered similar inspections last year to stop smuggling, but troopers found no contraband after checking more than 4,000 vehicles.
Federal agency failed to weigh possible environmental impacts of SpaceX rocket launch, lawsuit claims
Environmental groups claim the Federal Aviation Administration let SpaceX do its own environmental assessment before its rocket self-destructed above the Texas coast and debris rained down over a wide area.
Gun used in kidnapping of Americans in Mexico came from US
Federal court documents say the a man who admitted to purchasing firearms that he knew would be going from the U.S. to a Mexican drug cartel was arrested in Texas after the discovery that one of the weapons was linked to the deadly kidnapping of four Americans in the border city of Matamoros.
FBI creates new tip line for information about case involving 4 abducted Americans in Mexico
The San Antonio Division of the FBI created a new Digital Media Tip Line to help them identify the person or people responsible for the murders and kidnapping of a group of U.S. citizens who visited Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on March 3.
South Texas Latina-owned business makes national debut at Target for Hispanic Heritage Month
After years of hard work and dedication, a small South Texas Latina-owned business has made its national debut with hopes of inspiring Latinos across the U.S with its exclusive new collection at Target stores.
Texas needs to do more to help Hispanic students graduate from college, university leaders say
In a Texas Tribune event Tuesday, university leaders discussed why Hispanic students finish higher education programs at a lower rate than the state average but have better performance in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso.
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.
Brownsville mayor responds to Elon Muskโs promise of millions in donations
On Tuesday, Elon Musk said on Twitter that he would donate $20 million to Cameron County schools and $10 million to the City of Brownsville for โdowntown revitalization.โ The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX said he would release more details next week.
U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, whose seat is targeted by Republicans in 2022, says he will not seek reelection
WASHINGTON โ U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, emerged as a Republican target in 2022 after President Donald Trump performed better than expected along the Texas-Mexico border. Vela was first elected in 2012 and represents much of the South Texas Gulf Coast. Ad"Filemon was extremely dedicated to the people of South Texas during the time he has served in Congress," Borjon added. Vela won reelection in 2020 by nearly 14 percentage points in a district that has generally been considered safe for Democrats. AdBorjon acknowledged that the race to replace him will likely be tougher than in the past, given Republicans' over-performance in South Texas.
Emergency sites for migrant children raising safety concerns
A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive. President Joe Bidenโs administration has been sharply criticized for its response to a surge in crossings of unaccompanied immigrant children. โI feel like I have to wait and try again.โThe Biden administration is not expelling immigrant children unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian. But Pfluger and other Midland officials said the Biden administration wasnโt answering their questions or giving them assurance that officials would keep the surrounding community safe. HHS opened the Midland site without notifying some top local officials who say many of their questions aren't being answered.
Republicans seize on immigration as border crossings surge
Team Brownsville, a humanitarian group, is helping the migrants reach their final destination in the U.S. A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive. Still, the encounters of both unaccompanied minors and families remain lower than at various points during the Trump administration, including in spring 2019. They deride the policies Trump implemented to deter asylum as cruel and inhumane and an abdication of the countryโs humanitarian responsibilities. "The Trump administration did everything in their power for four years to make the already broken immigration system as cumbersome and ineffective as possible. ... You leave yourself nowhere to go.โAdโTheyโre kind of stuck in a corner,โ agreed Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies think tank, which advocates on behalf of more restrictive immigration policies.
Republicans seize on immigration as border crossings surge
Team Brownsville, a humanitarian group, is helping the migrants reach their final destination in the U.S. A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive. Still, the encounters of both unaccompanied minors and families remain lower than at various points during the Trump administration, including in spring 2019. They deride the policies Trump implemented to deter asylum as cruel and inhumane and an abdication of the countryโs humanitarian responsibilities. "The Trump administration did everything in their power for four years to make the already broken immigration system as cumbersome and ineffective as possible. ... You leave yourself nowhere to go.โAdโTheyโre kind of stuck in a corner,โ agreed Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies think tank, which advocates on behalf of more restrictive immigration policies.
Gov. Greg Abbott rejects aid from Biden administration in dispute over coronavirus testing for migrants
Abbott and Biden have been fighting for days over coronavirus safety protocols and whose actions have been putting the health of Texans at risk. After Abbott announced this week that he was lifting Texas' statewide mask mandate and capacity restrictions on businesses, Biden called that decision "Neanderthal thinking." Ad"The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities," Abbott wrote in one tweet Wednesday afternoon. He argued in a statement that border security is โstrictly a federal responsibility,โ and thus the Biden administration alone should "test, screen, and quarantine" migrants who may have COVID-19. โInstead of doing their job, the Biden Administration suggested it did not have the sufficient resources and, remarkably, asked Texas to assist them in aiding their illegal immigration program,โ Abbott said.
Woman accused of sending Trump ricin charged in Texas
(Hidalgo County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, via AP)BROWNSVILLE, Texas โ A Canadian woman accused of mailing packages containing the deadly poison ricin to the White House and several Texas law enforcement agencies has been indicted on new federal charges of making interstate threats and violating prohibitions on biological weapons. A grand jury in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday handed up sixteen counts against Pascale Ferrier, court records show. In September, Ferrier pleaded not guilty to making threats against President Donald Trump by mailing a package containing ricin to the White House after she was arrested at the U.S.-Canada border. Ferrier is also alleged to have sent ricin to six detention centers and law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The package was intercepted before it reached the White House.
New Tesla location coming to Brownsville, mayor confirms
BROWNSVILLE, Texas โ Brownsville will get a new 14,000-square-foot Tesla location, Mayor Trey Mendez confirmed on Sunday. Mendez said the announcement was the culmination of โmonths of secrecyโ and that the project shows that โBrownsville is undoubtedly the innovation capital of the RGV.โ The Tesla location will feature a service area and showroom. After several months of secrecy, we can finally reveal that we are getting a Tesla location in Brownsville. The city of Brownsville is nearest to SpaceX founder Elon Muskโs Boca Chica launch facility. Related: Tesla seeks to sell $5B in stock; CEO Elon Musk moves to Texas
U.S. Supreme Court will hear cases on border wall funding, "remain in Mexico" policy
In the border wall funding case, the high court will consider a challenge to the Trump administration's use of about $2.5 billion earmarked to pay members of the U.S. military to instead fund construction of part of his long-promised wall on the southern border. That case, Sierra Club v. Trump, was brought by the ACLU on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition. Gloria Smith, managing attorney at the Sierra Club, said the Supreme Court will hear the larger case that challenges the use of both types of Pentagon funding. "Stopping this wasteful and irreversible damage is long overdue, and we look forward to making our case before the Supreme Court,โ she said in a statement. Implemented as a way to deter migrants from seeking asylum, the policy has sent about 60,000 asylum seekers, most of them from Central America and Cuba, across the southern border.
Mexican army finds unfinished tunnel under Rio Grande
MEXICO CITY The Mexican army said Thursday that soldiers patrolling along the Rio Grande river have found an unfinished tunnel that was apparently dug under the river bed in a bid to reach U.S. territory. The army said a small pump was found at the mouth of the structure and was apparently used to clear water from it. The army said the tunnel was found earlier this week near the city of Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. The tunnel was apparently used for illegal activities. The river, known in Mexico as the Rio Bravo, is a frequent crossing point for drugs and migrant smuggling.
Texas county threatened with lawsuit over COVID-19 order
BROWNSVILLE, Texas โ Efforts by officials in one South Texas county to delay the start of face-to-face classes due to the coronavirus pandemic could face a legal challenge on claims of religious freedom. But attorneys for two private religious schools have told the county that the order is unlawful and goes against Republican Gov. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviรฑo Jr. said First Liberty is misconstruing the countyโs order regarding schools as an attack on religious freedom. The number of reported coronavirus cases in Texas increased by 3,493 and there were 104 more deaths due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, Texas health officials reported Sunday. State health officials reported 114,391 active cases of the virus and that 451,776 people have recovered.
This Day in Weather History: August 10th
It was on this day in 1980 that Hurricane Allen made landfall just north of Brownsville. The hurricane achieved Category 5 status three separate times (the only Atlantic hurricane to do so). It also ranks as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes with sustained winds near 190 mph at its peak. When Allen made landfall, it had weakened to a Category 3 storm. Still, it brought damaging winds and torrential rainfall.
SpaceX's Mars test rocket makes 1st flight, landing upright
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. SpaceX launched a prototype of its Mars rocketship hundreds of feet into the air, then landed it upright in a successful test flight. Mars is looking real, SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk tweeted after the short hop. Progress is accelerating.Musk said several more short hops are planned before a test version of Starship aims for a high altitude. On Sunday, SpaceX safely returned two NASA astronauts from the International Space Station following a two-month test flight. We're going to send people to Mars and make life multi-planetary," Musk said following splashdown.
Hanna's rain remains biggest threat to virus hot spot Texas
Chris Headen battles with his umbrellas as Hurricane Hanna begins to make landfall, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Some areas in South Texas had already reported receiving up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain, including Cameron County, which borders Mexico and where Brownsville is located. First responders in Corpus Christi proactively placed barricades near intersections to have them ready to go if streets began to flood, Mayor Joe McComb said. More than 43,700 people throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Brownsville, were without power Saturday evening, according to AEP Texas. Other counties and cities throughout South Texas had also opened shelters, with many requiring face masks.
Longtime Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. leading over challenger from his left
Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, spoke during during a Senate State Affairs committee hearing on July 23, 2017. According to early returns from the Texas Secretary of State, Lucio was leading Stapleton-Barrera 54%-46%. Another Senate runoff that drew considerable attention was the Democratic race to go against state Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton. Flores fell short in his bid to upset state Sen. Carlos Uresti for the seat in 2016. As of late Tuesday evening, the special election to replace former state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, remained fluid.
Julin and Joaquin Castro criticize Gov. Greg Abbott for reopening Texas too soon
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, in Brownsville in 2018. "If we'd had a better federal response and state response, perhaps we would have already been around the quarter on this," Julin Castro said. Joaquin Castro said the number of beds, hospitals, and infections could have also been significantly reduced. "We're not saying that there would have been no consequences," Joaquin Castro said. All of the money that has been used is been money that's come from the federal government," Joaquin Castro said.
Exotic bird discovered during human smuggling attempt in Texas, officials say
BROWNSVILLE, TX U.S. Border Patrol announced Monday that they seized an exotic bird while taking a group of people illegally smuggled across the board into custody. As agents arrived to the location, they discovered evidence of several of people who entered the country illegally, CBP said in a statement. Additionally, agents noticed a plastic bag carried by one of the aliens with a live bird inside.After agents inspected the bag they determined the bird to be a toucan. CBP officials stated that while it is uncommon for exotic animals to be discovered in human smuggling attempts, agents rescued a tiger cub stuffed in a duffel bag near Brownsville two years ago. Related: CBP: Agents at World Trade Bridge in Laredo seize over $11 million in narcotics
Report: Massive fire destroys condominium complex on South Padre Island
Published: May 16, 2020, 10:10 am Updated: May 16, 2020, 2:06 pmSOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas โ A massive fire completely destroyed a condominium complex on South Padre Island Saturday morning, according to a report from KRGV. The Valley Star reported firefighters were working to extinguish the flames by spraying water from a nearby parking garage. Firefighters from South Padre Island, Port Isabel, Los Fresnos and Brownsville were called to the scene to assist in the fire response, per KRGV. Praying it wonโt spread ๐๐ผ Posted by Alvaro Costilla on Saturday, May 16, 2020The building was deemed a total loss with damages estimating around $7 million and no injuries were reported, according to KRGV. SAFD: Family of four loses home in massive fire on West Side
Watch all of KSATโs coverage from the 1,700-mile journey along the U.S.-Mexico border
KSAT is traveling 1,700 miles along the U.S., Mexican border from Brownsville to San Diego to tell the stories about the people who live there and what the recent political climate has done to their day-to-day lives. Our team is also interviewing law enforcement officials, nonprofits and migrants who have crossed the border. Want to know more? Follow along each day as we update these stories:DAY 1See where Tiffany Huertas and Adrian Garcia are headed on the mapImmigrant surrenders to Border Patrol on camera; officials commend โzero tolerance policyโREAD: Migrant father pens heartfelt letter after separated from daughterAdDAY 2Rio Grande Valley landowners living along the border share experiences with immigrantsDAY 3Undocumented mothers say they left violence; now fearing deportationFear of violence, deportation back in hometown haunts undocumented immigrantsDAY 4Deadline nears for migrant children to be reunited with parentsAdBillboards pushing for migrant family reunifications as deadline nearsDAY 5Deadline arrives for US to reunite migrant families following โzero-tolerance' policyEl Paso shelter offers hospitality to reunited migrant familiesCatholic Charities CEO: Reunification of separated families has been learning experienceAdDAY 6How Border Patrol is combating drug cartels, illegal activity from Ciudad JuarรฉzHow officials identify deceased immigrants found along US-Mexico borderPICS: Arizona Sheriff shares images of drug cartel tunnels found in border townDAY 7Nonprofit organization receiving teddy bears for migrant children separated from familiesAdVolunteers hike deadly desert mountains to place water for migrantsFamilies separated at border reunite briefly in San Diego parkโ
Undocumented mothers say they left violence; now fearing deportation
BROWNSVILLE, Texas โ The stories of two undocumented mothers from separate countries may be different, but the constant emotion of living in fear is the same. She said the violence in her hometown has continued with her niece and cousin recently being kidnapped. โMe procupa que me separen de mis hijas (I'm worried about being separated from my daughters),โ Heidi said. Heidi said she left her country to not only escape the violence but also poverty. โQue dios no los abandone (May God not abandon them).โAdAccording to the Center for Immigration Studies, the undocumented population was 10.8 million in 2016.
READ: Migrant father pens heartfelt letter after separated from daughter
Eileen Blessinger said she has collected more than 30 letters written by parents being kept in the Port Isabel Detention Center. Blessinger shared one of the letters from a father who told his daughter that he loved her and not to lose faith. AdBlessinger said she and her five colleagues have been meeting with over 200 men and women who have been separated from their children. โThe emotional toll that is taking on everyone is really extreme; not just the parents but the children as well,โ Blessinger said. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw imposed a series of deadlines for the administration to reunite hundreds of children.