Browse Stories in immigration

Tragedy struck Sunday, July 23, 2017 when dozens of immigrants were trapped in a semi-trailer truck parked in a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio. The men, women, and children put on the rig in Laredo had been promised that their trip would include air conditioning. Not only did they not have air conditioning, but no air to breathe or water to drink as well. It was certainly a horrifying and gruesome end to the lives of 10 people who have died thus far and a horrendous experience to survivors who no doubt contemplated their death over several hours that felt like an eternity.

Updated: by Julián Aguilar, The Texas Tribune A federal district judge ruled against the state of Texas and halted major provisions of a controversial state-based immigration enforcement law just days before it was scheduled to go into effect.

By Maria Gardner If a federal judge does not block the anti-immigration law, San Antonio police will have to write new rules in the manual and retrain the force in immigration law, Police Chief William McManus told members of COPS/Metro Alliance.  Senate Bill 4, the “sanctuary cities” ban, allows local and campus police to question a person’s legal status and makes it a crime for officials such as McManus to have policies that are inconsistent with the law.

By Joseph Tucker Increased raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Border Patrol agents are frightening women away from the only reproductive health clinic in the Rio Grande Valley, according to a reproductive rights advocate.

by Julián Aguilar, The Texas Tribune Representatives from Texas’ business, local government and higher education sectors argued Tuesday that the state’s new immigration-enforcement law, which is slated to take effect Sept. 1, could do billions of dollars in damage to the Texas economy.

Join Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio to raise awareness and be an advocate for the refugee community at an art event at Brick in the Blue Star from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 20, 2017. Admission is $15. See artwork by children from all over the world and learn about the culture and journey of each artist. All artwork is available for purchase. There will be a special performance by poet and story teller Carolina Quiroga-Stultz. Light appetizers included and cash bar available.

by Julián Aguilar, The Texas Tribune The cities of San Antonio and Austin announced on Thursday they have joined the fight to stop the state's new immigration enforcement law, Senate Bill 4, in federal court.

While a boisterous audience of COPS/Metro Alliance members cheered them on, candidates for San Antonio mayor and city council pledged to fight Senate Bill 4 - the anti-sanctuary city law - starting on the day they take office. About 350 people packed the Dominion Church of God in Christ on May 22 for a Get Out the Vote Rally and Accountability Session where candidates were asked to give yes or no answers to questions about the COPS/Metro agenda on SB4, affordable housing, immigration and living wages.

The San Antonio Police Chief, the Bexar County Sheriff and District Attorney condemned the bill banning sanctuary policies, and were joined by C.O.P.S./Metro leaders who said they “refuse to give up a culture of hospitality and welcoming the stranger.”

About 750 people filled St. Henry Catholic Church’s parish hall to hear candidates for San Antonio mayor and city council respond to COPS/Metro questions about immigration, affordable housing, minimum wages and workforce development. At the Accountability Session, candidates were told to answer the following questions: