🚔💼 ICE Deports Over 500 in Houston Area in One Week, Targets Dangerous Immigrants
🚫💉 Texas Bill Requiring Hospitals to Report Citizenship Status of Patients Dies in House 📚🚫 Texas Senate Approves Bill to Restrict College Protests After Israel-Hamas Demonstrations
🚔💼 ICE Deports Over 500 in Houston Area in One Week, Targets Dangerous Immigrants
Uriel J. GarcÃa, The Texas Tribune.- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on May 13, 2025, that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported more than 500 individuals and arrested over 400 suspected undocumented immigrants in a weeklong operation in the Houston area. The operation, described by ICE Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford as a cost-saving initiative, targeted individuals who had exhausted their legal options and been ordered removed. Although the government did not provide details on the specific crimes committed, it highlighted arrests of individuals with serious convictions, including homicide and sexual exploitation of a minor. The multi-agency operation included partnerships with CBP, the DEA, ATF, FBI, and local authorities. Critics, including Vanessa Cárdenas of America’s Voice, condemned the operation, accusing the Trump administration of criminalizing immigrants despite their contributions to American society.
🚫💉 Texas Bill Requiring Hospitals to Report Citizenship Status of Patients Dies in House
Terri Langford, The Texas Tribune.- A Republican-backed bill requiring Texas hospitals to report the citizenship status of patients, particularly those who are undocumented immigrants, was blocked in the Texas House on May 13, 2025. The bill, House Bill 2587, aimed to codify an executive order by Governor Greg Abbott and mandate an annual report detailing the financial impact of treating undocumented patients. The measure faced strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers, particularly state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, who successfully raised a point of order to halt the bill. The bill's failure came after Abbott’s 2024 order required hospitals to track patients' immigration status, with Texas hospitals reporting nearly $122 million spent on treating undocumented patients. Critics argue the bill would push immigrants further into the shadows and turn hospitals into immigration enforcement points.
📚🚫 Texas Senate Approves Bill to Restrict College Protests After Israel-Hamas Demonstrations
Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune.- The Texas Senate approved a bill on May 13, 2025, that would impose new restrictions on college campus protests, particularly in response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations held last year following the Israel-Hamas conflict. Senate Bill 2972, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, aims to limit protest locations and activities on campuses, including banning protests during class hours with amplified sound, prohibiting overnight protests, and disallowing the use of masks to conceal identities. Critics argue that the bill contradicts previous protections for free speech established by Senate Bill 18 in 2019. Opponents argue that the measure could lead to discrimination against protesters based on their viewpoints, raising concerns about its potential impact on both liberal and conservative demonstrations. The bill comes after increased tensions and protests at universities across the U.S. and follows the Texas House's reaction to rising antisemitism on campuses.