Gus Bova

Really, Texas' legal argument is breathtaking:

“There is no basis to second-guess Governor Abbott’s determination that a sudden & unprecedented influx into Texas of hostile non-state actors … justify Operation Lone Star’s initiatives, including ... SB4" https://www.texasobserver.org/sb-4-immigration-deportations-david-ezra/

Today's federal court hearing seemed to bode well for the US government in its case against Texas' state deportations law Senate Bill 4.

"It just slaps the federal immigration law right in the face," said the judge: https://www.texasobserver.org/sb-4-immigration-deportations-david-ezra/

NEW: I checked in with Palestinian activists across Texas' major cities about their efforts to get city councils to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

They face resistance even from sympathetic officials who claim the issue is too divisive or is not local: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-gaza-ceasefire-austin-dallas-houston-san-antonio/

For the @TexasObserver@texasobserver.social Jan/Feb print issue, I reviewed a new book about Central America that unearths the U.S. role in the region's crises. It's an empathetic intervention in a toxic political discourse: https://www.texasobserver.org/central-america-book-migration-jonathan-blitzer/

In both word and deed, Texas' governor has kicked off the New Year by fomenting hate and courting chaos at the border: https://www.texasobserver.org/greg-abbotts-new-years-resolution-sow-chaos-at-the-border/

As the first lawsuit against Texas' Senate Bill 4 is filed, we've already got you covered with the long legal view of the profound immigration enforcement issues at play: https://www.texasobserver.org/sb-4-texas-state-immigration-law/

New from me: How Texas is challenging 150 years of Supreme Court precedent on immigration...

Come for the great analysis from the lawyers I talked to; stay for the part where I start quoting from a Federalist Paper: https://www.texasobserver.org/sb-4-texas-state-immigration-law/

NEW: Texas Legislature Votes to Seize Immigration Authority from Feds

"“The Texas Legislature has tried year after year to co-opt immigration policy with its own outlandish schemes, not caring who they may harm, imprison, or forcibly remove in the process." https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-legislature-votes-to-seize-immigration-authority-from-feds/

@MarkRNay@ravenation.club @ZhiZhu@newsie.social @TexasObserver@texasobserver.social

Actually: Arkansas and Florida. Mississippi has it but it's blocked by courts on a technicality. Oklahoma people will debate whether Southern

I'm on Texas Standard today talking about the reason Texans can’t vote on abortion and weed: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/the-reason-texans-cant-vote-on-abortion-and-weed/

If you're a Texan looking enviously at last night's election results in Ohio, I've got an explainer up for you today.

Headline: The Reason Texans Can’t Vote on Abortion and Weed https://www.texasobserver.org/the-reason-texans-cant-vote-on-abortion-and-weed/

"It’s gonna come down to the people that work for
[Elon Musk] deciding if they want their fair share … or if they want him to fly himself to outer space at their expense.” https://www.texasobserver.org/uaws-historic-strike-win-has-huge-implications-for-texas-autoworkers/

“The Biden administration’s decision to plow wildlife-killing border walls through some of the best remaining habitat in the Rio Grande Valley is a national disgrace." https://www.texasobserver.org/biden-quietly-gave-border-wall-contract-to-company-used-by-trump-abbott/