News and Resources

Trump tours border barrier as part of a show of force on immigration ahead of reelection campaign
The visit comes as the administration has felt emboldened after winning new legal authority to move forward in funding a border wall and gaining additional powers to enforce asylum restrictions.... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-18
Source: Washington Post
Climate Change Will Make Harmful Algae Blooms in Texas Waterways More Common
Cyanobacteria are one of the oldest known life forms on earth. Better known as blue-green algae, the photosynthetic microorganism occurs naturally in almost all waterways around the world. The algae... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-17
Source: Texas Observer
Migrants at Laredo Tent Court Tell Stories of Kidnappings and Violence While Pleading Not to Be Returned to Mexico
On Monday morning, 52 asylum-seekers were scheduled to appear in court at a complex of tent structures hastily constructed next to one of Laredo’s international bridges. More than 150 miles... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-16
Source: Texas Observer
How Earl Campbell Changed Football in Texas
In 1977, the University of Texas’ crushing running back, Earl Campbell, racked up 1,744 yards on the football field, 1,054 of those coming after initial contact with a defender on the... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-13
Source: Texas Observer
Texas’ Presidential Candidates Break Out Briefly During the Democratic Debate
by Amal Ahmed, Gus Bova, and Andrea Valdez September 13, 2019 The third Democratic presidential debate and all its attendant hullabaloo stampeded into Texas Thursday night. It was a historic... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-13
Source: Texas Observer
The Trump Administration Blows Its Border Wall Budget in South Texas
The border wall contains multitudes. It’s a monument to racism, a minor inconvenience for would-be border crossers, and a hydrological threat to floodplain communities along the Rio Grande. It’s also... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-12
Source: Texas Observer
Senate Democrats to force one more vote against Trump’s border emergency declaration
Schumer aims to pressure Republicans from states that would lose military project funding to the border wall.... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-10
Source: Washington Post
‘El Paso Firme’ Music Festival Calls on Texans to Peacefully Resist White Supremacy
About 1,200 people attended the El Paso Firme Music Fest on Saturday, a call to action against white supremacy through “the healing power of music.” The all-day event held at... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-08
Source: Texas Observer
The Pentagon is moving money to pay for Trump’s border wall. Here are the consequences.
This politicizes the military even more. It also has constitutional problems.... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-06
Source: Washington Post
More than two years later, Trump’s wall remains unbuilt
The president insists he's building "the wall," but it's actually a much more modest system of fences and vehicle barriers, many of which are simply being replaced.... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-06
Source: Washington Post
A big loser in shifting money from the military to the wall: A territory threatened by North Korea
Where the Defense Department is postponing projects to fund a border wall.... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-05
Source: Washington Post
The Daily 202: The biggest losers from Trump’s diversion of military funds for his wall
Puerto Rico’s recovery and Russian deterrence are at the top of the list.... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-05
Source: Washington Post
BREAKING: Laredo targeted by recently announced border walls
By Stefanie Herweck and Scott Nicol Today the Trump Administration announced the locations of border walls that will be built using $3.6 billion raided from Department of Defense budgets, including... Read more
Published on: 2019-09-03
Source: Sierra Club Rio Grande Vally
29 Laws Waived in the Rio Grande Valley Today to Build the Border Wall
There is, of course, no reason for the Trump administration to waive these laws unless they intend to break them.... Read more
Published on: 2019-08-30
Source: Sierra Club Rio Grande Vally
‘Mistakes Were Made’: Greg Abbott’s Non-Denial Denial on Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric
After a whole week dodging the matter, it took Governor Greg Abbott nearly five painfully long seconds of silent contemplation to conjure up the words “mistakes were made” in response... Read more
Published on: 2019-08-30
Source: Texas Observer
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RESOURCES

EXPERIENCING THE BORDERLANDS

Navigating the Borderlands
Borderline: Navigating the invisible boundary and physical barriers that define the U.S.-Mexico border
America’s Wall
Embattled Borderlands
Up Against the Wall
USA Today’s In-Depth Examination of the Border Wall
Faces of the Borderlands
Along the border, 500 miles of desert species

BACKGROUND

Maps, science and photographs documenting border impacts
Border Security and Accountability Act of 2015 – Fact Sheet
Wall Street’s Border Wall: How 5 Firms Benefit Financially from Anti-Immigrant Policy
Past, Present, and Future Impacts of Walls on the U.S.-Mexico Border

CASE AGAINST THE WALL

The Environmental Cost of Trump’s Border Wall – Center for Western Priorities
Why we don’t need Trump’s ‘great, great wall’ – Arizona Daily Star
New Border Walls Designed to Flood Texas Towns – Texas Observer
Border Lawmakers Balk at Donald Trump’s Wall Request – Wall Street Journal
Scientists say Trump’s border wall would devastate wildlife habitat – The Texas Tribune
Surprising Lives of Those Living Along U.S.-Mexico Border – National Geographic
There’s a better alternative to building a border wall: restoring the Rio Grande – Quartz
The environmental impact of the US-Mexico Border Wall – Newsweek
Why Trump’s wall won’t stretch ‘from sea to shining sea’ – Washington Post
The Founders would have opposed seizing land for Trump’s border wall – Washington Post

Photo: Krista Schlyer