🚀 New Bill Shifts Beach Authority from Cameron County to Starbase for SpaceX Launches
🌧️ South Texas Caught Off Guard by Record Flooding That Left 6 Dead, $100M in Damage 🚔 Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Denied Bail in Alleged Tren de Aragua Cocaine Trafficking Case
🚀 New Bill Shifts Beach Authority from Cameron County to Starbase for SpaceX Launches
Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune.- South Texas county officials will lose some control over Boca Chica Beach under a bill passed by the Texas Senate on Thursday, shifting weekday closure authority to the proposed city of Starbase—pending a May vote to incorporate the area primarily composed of SpaceX employees. The bill, introduced by Sen. Adam Hinojosa (R-Corpus Christi), aims to streamline beach closure procedures without increasing SpaceX's FAA-authorized 800 annual closure hours. Cameron County would retain authority over closures on Friday afternoons and weekends, which some commissioners criticized as politically motivated blame-shifting. A companion bill would criminalize remaining in FAA-designated hazard areas during launches. Local nonprofits and county leaders, including Judge Eddie Treviño, oppose the legislation, warning it prioritizes SpaceX over public beach access and community input. The bill now heads to the House, where a similar proposal awaits committee review.
🌧️ South Texas Caught Off Guard by Record Flooding That Left 6 Dead, $100M in Damage
Berenice Garcia, The Texas Tribune.- Last week’s historic storm in the Rio Grande Valley killed at least six people, flooded hundreds of homes and vehicles, and left emergency responders scrambling after meteorological models failed to predict the storm’s path. Hidalgo County’s emergency coordinator Rick Saldaña called it a “100-year flood,” noting the area received nearly 20 inches of rain in just two days — rivaling totals from 1967’s Hurricane Beulah. Despite recent drainage improvements, the Valley’s infrastructure couldn’t cope, and thousands were displaced. Governor Abbott declared a disaster for four counties, and FEMA is conducting assessments. The National Weather Service acknowledged errors in its forecast, attributing the unexpected devastation to jet stream dynamics more common in the Mid-Atlantic. Farmers, already battling drought, suffered severe crop loss. While Falcon Reservoir gained some water, officials say it’s far from enough to relieve the ongoing water crisis for agriculture. Recovery will likely surpass $100 million in damages.
Key Data Points:
Rainfall: Up to 20 inches fell from March 26–28, crushing records.
Fatalities: At least 6 confirmed deaths (4 by drowning, 2 from a lightning-induced house fire).
Flooded Properties: At least 1,000 buildings and 1,000 vehicles.
Airport Closure: Harlingen’s Valley International Airport closed until March 31.
Emergency Response: Hundreds rescued; over a dozen shelters opened.
Agricultural Impact: Extensive crop and livestock loss across the region.
Water Gains: Falcon Reservoir rose from 11.2% to 12.8% capacity (45,663 acre-feet).
🚔 Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Denied Bail in Alleged Tren de Aragua Cocaine Trafficking Case
Eileen Grench, Houston Landing.- A federal magistrate judge denied bail Thursday to Jesus Miguel Barreto Lezama, a 29-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker accused of accepting payment in a Houston-based cocaine smuggling scheme allegedly tied to the Tren de Aragua gang. Prosecutors argued Barreto Lezama poses a threat due to his suspected association with the transnational criminal group, though no evidence directly linking him to the gang was presented at the hearing. FBI Agent Tamika Jones testified that Barreto Lezama took cash from an associate connected to gang targets in South America. Barreto Lezama’s public defender emphasized his family ties, asylum status, and recent work permit as reasons for release, adding he was not accused of handling drugs. Still, Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan ruled him a potential flight risk. The case is part of a broader federal investigation into Tren de Aragua’s suspected U.S. operations, despite local experts questioning the gang’s reach in Houston.
🧱📉 Border Wall Falls Plummet in San Diego Amid Military Surge and Migrant Crossing Drop
Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune.- The number of people injured in falls from the U.S.-Mexico border wall in San Diego County has dropped dramatically following the Trump administration’s increased military deployment and heightened deterrent measures. UC San Diego Health reported only 25 cases from January to March 2025 compared to 153 in the same period last year. Scripps Health reported a steep falloff, with no February cases compared to 42 in 2024. The drop aligns with a surge in military presence and a sharp decline in border crossings — just 1,650 encounters were reported in February, down from 31,562 a year earlier. While some hail the reduction in injuries as a sign of more substantial border control, advocacy groups warn it has pushed migrants toward more dangerous alternatives. Experts agree that the fall in injuries relieves hospitals, which have incurred millions in uncompensated care, but the lack of safe asylum pathways remains a significant concern.
Key Facts:
Hospital Trends:
UCSD: 25 wall fall injuries in Q1 2025 vs. 153 in Q1 2024
Scripps: 10 in January, 0 in February 2025 vs. 32 and 42 in 2024
Crossing Stats:
San Diego Border Patrol: 1,650 encounters in Feb 2025 vs. 31,562 in Feb 2024
Background:
Wall height increased to 30 feet during Trump’s first term
Border wall falls surged post-wall expansion
Over $24 million in uncompensated hospital care from Jan 2023–Jun 2024
Ongoing Risks:
One fatal fall reported March 31, 2025, near San Ysidro
Migrants increasingly attempting crossings via sea or remote areas
Reactions:
Activists: Fewer falls is positive, but safe asylum access is still lacking
Officials: Reduction proves federal power to secure the border without new legislation
👩🎓⚖️ Lawyers Urge Return of Detained Tufts Student Amid Claims of Unlawful ICE Transfer
Michael Casey, AP News.– Lawyers for Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey, demanded in federal court Thursday that she be returned to Massachusetts after ICE secretly transferred her to a Louisiana detention center. Ozturk was arrested on March 25 near her Boston home and moved through three states in 22 hours without notice to counsel, sparking concerns of jurisdictional manipulation. Federal officials argue she was moved due to a lack of local bed space. Judge Denise Casper has yet to rule on whether she should be returned. Ozturk’s visa was revoked over alleged — and unsubstantiated — ties to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Her attorneys insist the revocation was retaliation for her political views, including writing an op-ed supporting Palestinian rights. Outside court, dozens of protesters rallied for her release. The case underscores rising scrutiny over U.S. visa crackdowns linked to pro-Palestinian activism.
🚨👷 Immigration Raid at Washington Roofing Company Leads to 37 Arrests Over Work Status
AP News.– Federal immigration officials arrested 37 people Wednesday morning in a raid at Mt. Baker Roofing in Bellingham, Washington, near the Canadian border. Officers from ICE and Customs and Border Protection arrived around 7:30 a.m. with a list of undocumented workers, detaining employees who allegedly submitted fraudulent documents for employment. Some workers described the heavily armed raid as traumatizing, saying agents treated them “like criminals.” ICE stated the arrests stem from an ongoing investigation into the illegal employment of unauthorized workers. The roofing company said it cooperates with authorities while ensuring fair treatment for its employees. This is among the more visible enforcement actions under President Trump’s second term, though still less expansive than mass workplace raids from his first term. No criminal charges have been announced against company executives, though civil penalties are possible under federal law.
Key Facts:
Where: Mt. Baker Roofing, Bellingham, Washington
When: April 2, 2025, 7:30 a.m. raid
Who: 37 undocumented workers arrested by ICE/CBP
Why: Alleged use of fraudulent documents to gain employment
Company response: Cooperating with authorities
Context: Trump-era immigration enforcement uptick, but no charges yet for management