Alejandro Serrano
@serranoalej.bsky.social
politics reporter @texastribune.bsky.social | email me: [email protected]
Two weeks ago, Texas AG Ken Paxton announced that his office had arrested 35 undocumented people they turned over to ICE.
So, I asked via an open records requests for arrest reports and any other relevant docs related to the apprehensions. The AG's office says there aren't any:
So, I asked via an open records requests for arrest reports and any other relevant docs related to the apprehensions. The AG's office says there aren't any:
November 4, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Two weeks ago, Texas AG Ken Paxton announced that his office had arrested 35 undocumented people they turned over to ICE.
So, I asked via an open records requests for arrest reports and any other relevant docs related to the apprehensions. The AG's office says there aren't any:
So, I asked via an open records requests for arrest reports and any other relevant docs related to the apprehensions. The AG's office says there aren't any:
new from me: In the wake of the Uvalde school shooting in 2022, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made a risky decision for a Texas Republican: He helped shepherd major gun safety legislation. Now critics are turning up the heat on Cornyn in what's shaping up to be the fight of his career.
t.co/Sa9INpUBNb
t.co/Sa9INpUBNb
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/27/john-cornyn-gun-bill-senate-primary-texas
t.co
October 28, 2025 at 1:24 AM
new from me: In the wake of the Uvalde school shooting in 2022, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made a risky decision for a Texas Republican: He helped shepherd major gun safety legislation. Now critics are turning up the heat on Cornyn in what's shaping up to be the fight of his career.
t.co/Sa9INpUBNb
t.co/Sa9INpUBNb
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
In April, authorities raided what they say was a Tren de Aragua gathering. Attendees say it was a birthday party.
Among those detained included a homeless barber/DoorDash driver, and three people who fled Venezuela years ago *because of* that gang
🧵
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
Among those detained included a homeless barber/DoorDash driver, and three people who fled Venezuela years ago *because of* that gang
🧵
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
Officials Said They Busted a Tren de Aragua Party. Attendees Beg to Differ.
A highly publicized multi-agency raid in Hays County resulted in dozens of arrests on low-level immigration charges and left an Austin mother's life in tatters. It also fit a pattern of unproven gang-...
www.texasobserver.org
September 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
In April, authorities raided what they say was a Tren de Aragua gathering. Attendees say it was a birthday party.
Among those detained included a homeless barber/DoorDash driver, and three people who fled Venezuela years ago *because of* that gang
🧵
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
Among those detained included a homeless barber/DoorDash driver, and three people who fled Venezuela years ago *because of* that gang
🧵
www.texasobserver.org/officials-tr...
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
The Texas Department of Public Safety has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country, a job once exclusively done by federal authorities. @serranoalej.bsky.social @texastribune.org
“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: DPS arresting thousands of undocumented immigrants across Texas to aid Trump’s mass deportation
The Department of Public Safety has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country, a job once exclusively done by federal authorities.
www.texastribune.org
September 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The Texas Department of Public Safety has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country, a job once exclusively done by federal authorities. @serranoalej.bsky.social @texastribune.org
New: Texas DPS officers are helping arrest thousands of undocumented immigrants across the state, including in large cities whose Democrat leaders have historically opposed working w/ ICE.
Spokesperson tells me: "Operation Lone Star 2.0 is underway statewide..."
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/t...
Spokesperson tells me: "Operation Lone Star 2.0 is underway statewide..."
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/t...
“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: DPS arresting thousands of undocumented immigrants across Texas to aid Trump’s mass deportation
The Department of Public Safety has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country, a job once exclusively done by federal authorities.
www.texastribune.org
September 13, 2025 at 12:11 AM
New: Texas DPS officers are helping arrest thousands of undocumented immigrants across the state, including in large cities whose Democrat leaders have historically opposed working w/ ICE.
Spokesperson tells me: "Operation Lone Star 2.0 is underway statewide..."
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/t...
Spokesperson tells me: "Operation Lone Star 2.0 is underway statewide..."
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/12/t...
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: Texas Dept. of Public Safety arresting thousands of undocumented immigrants across TX to aid Trump’s mass deportation
DPS has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country...
From @serranoalej.bsky.social
DPS has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country...
From @serranoalej.bsky.social
“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: DPS arresting thousands of undocumented immigrants across Texas to aid Trump’s mass deportation
The Department of Public Safety has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country, a job once exclusively done by federal authorities.
www.texastribune.org
September 12, 2025 at 1:10 PM
“Operation Lone Star 2.0”: Texas Dept. of Public Safety arresting thousands of undocumented immigrants across TX to aid Trump’s mass deportation
DPS has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country...
From @serranoalej.bsky.social
DPS has shifted from Biden-era border enforcement to helping expel people from the country...
From @serranoalej.bsky.social
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
📽️ WATCH: Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla, one of the men Trump sent to CECOT, told our reporters he was beaten the moment the plane landed.
He says when he regained consciousness and saw the polished concrete floor, the bright lights, the men in uniform, he just asked God: What am I doing here? Why?
He says when he regained consciousness and saw the polished concrete floor, the bright lights, the men in uniform, he just asked God: What am I doing here? Why?
August 12, 2025 at 1:01 AM
📽️ WATCH: Andry Omar Blanco Bonilla, one of the men Trump sent to CECOT, told our reporters he was beaten the moment the plane landed.
He says when he regained consciousness and saw the polished concrete floor, the bright lights, the men in uniform, he just asked God: What am I doing here? Why?
He says when he regained consciousness and saw the polished concrete floor, the bright lights, the men in uniform, he just asked God: What am I doing here? Why?
you should read my @texastribune.org colleague Carlos Nogueras Ramos' dispatch about how Midland high school may once again be named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee five years after the school shed its Confederate moniker -->
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/m...
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/m...
Five years after shedding Confederate moniker, a West Texas high school may be Lee High again
The Midland school district rebranded Robert E. Lee High as Legacy High in 2020, part of a nationwide trend to distance public places from the Confederacy.
www.texastribune.org
August 12, 2025 at 2:00 AM
you should read my @texastribune.org colleague Carlos Nogueras Ramos' dispatch about how Midland high school may once again be named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee five years after the school shed its Confederate moniker -->
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/m...
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/11/m...
New: Increased attention on Texas House Democratic leader Rep. Gene Wu of Houston comes with more anti-Asian insults.
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/t...
Increased attention on Texas House Democratic leader Gene Wu comes with more anti-Asian insults
“Is Gene Wu back in China?” state Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Galveston Republican, posted on X on Monday — the first day the House did not reach a quorum due to the absent Democrats.
www.texastribune.org
August 7, 2025 at 2:18 AM
New: Increased attention on Texas House Democratic leader Rep. Gene Wu of Houston comes with more anti-Asian insults.
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/08/06/t...
New: Meet Goliad County Sheriff Roy Boyd, who's emerged as a model for how sheriffs can serve in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement apparatus. Sheriffs are already set to supercharge Trump’s immigration crackdown — especially in Texas.
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/g...
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/g...
How a rural Texas sheriff became a poster child for serving Trump’s immigration goals
Roy Boyd has also become one of the loudest cheerleaders for partnerships between sheriffs and ICE to offer the federal agency unprecedented access to jails and deputies.
www.texastribune.org
July 31, 2025 at 5:53 PM
New: Meet Goliad County Sheriff Roy Boyd, who's emerged as a model for how sheriffs can serve in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement apparatus. Sheriffs are already set to supercharge Trump’s immigration crackdown — especially in Texas.
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/g...
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/31/g...
New: A Venezuelan man accused by Texas police of being a Tren de Aragua member and sent to El Salvador was initially arrested on criminal trespassing charges when he crossed the border. This week a Texas judge dismissed that case. But he remains in ES's CECOT.
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/t...
Texas judge dismisses case against migrant deported to El Salvador for being an alleged gang member
DPS troopers labeled Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, who remains in a Salvadoran prison, a Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang member based on a photo of him with a tattooed man.
www.texastribune.org
July 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
New: A Venezuelan man accused by Texas police of being a Tren de Aragua member and sent to El Salvador was initially arrested on criminal trespassing charges when he crossed the border. This week a Texas judge dismissed that case. But he remains in ES's CECOT.
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/t...
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
28-year-old Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, who has no known criminal record, was accused by Texas police of being in a Venezuelan gang because they found a photo of him posing with another man with tattoos, his lawyers say.
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
Migrant deported to El Salvador after DPS labeled him a member of Tren de Aragua without evidence, lawyer says
Lawyers for Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo deny he is a gang member and say the DPS accusation hinges on a photo they found of him standing next to a man with tattoos.
www.texastribune.org
June 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
28-year-old Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, who has no known criminal record, was accused by Texas police of being in a Venezuelan gang because they found a photo of him posing with another man with tattoos, his lawyers say.
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
From ProPublica partner @texastribune.org:
New: Texas police asked a Venezuelan migrant if he had tattoos. He didn't. But they found a photo of him standing next to a man who did. That was enough to label him a member of Tren de Aragua, getting him shipped to El Salvador, lawyers say.
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/t...
Migrant deported to El Salvador after DPS labeled him a member of Tren de Aragua without evidence, lawyer says
Lawyers for Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo deny he is a gang member and say the DPS accusation hinges on a photo they found of him standing next to a man with tattoos.
www.texastribune.org
June 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM
New: Texas police asked a Venezuelan migrant if he had tattoos. He didn't. But they found a photo of him standing next to a man who did. That was enough to label him a member of Tren de Aragua, getting him shipped to El Salvador, lawyers say.
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/t...
new from me:
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got the THC ban he wanted — and an explosion of backlash.
As pressure mounts on the governor to veto #SB3, Patrick is in the unfamiliar position of taking flak from conservative activists and media personalities.
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/d...
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got the THC ban he wanted — and an explosion of backlash.
As pressure mounts on the governor to veto #SB3, Patrick is in the unfamiliar position of taking flak from conservative activists and media personalities.
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/d...
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s push to ban THC in Texas draws rare backlash from the right
It’s an unusual situation for the lieutenant governor, long viewed by GOP activists as a stalwart conservative responsible for driving the Legislature rightward.
www.texastribune.org
June 11, 2025 at 2:01 AM
new from me:
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got the THC ban he wanted — and an explosion of backlash.
As pressure mounts on the governor to veto #SB3, Patrick is in the unfamiliar position of taking flak from conservative activists and media personalities.
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/d...
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got the THC ban he wanted — and an explosion of backlash.
As pressure mounts on the governor to veto #SB3, Patrick is in the unfamiliar position of taking flak from conservative activists and media personalities.
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/d...
New: Two months ago, a cadre of Texas and federal authorities crashed what they later described as a Tren de Aragua gathering in Hays County and detained 47 people, including kids.
Since, the authorities involved in the raid have not said much.
🧵
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/t...
Since, the authorities involved in the raid have not said much.
🧵
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/t...
Months after detaining 47 people accused of being Tren de Aragua in Austin, authorities offer no evidence of gang ties
People at the raided house say they rented it for a birthday party and deny any connection to the gang. One man says law enforcement accused him of being in Tren de Aragua because of his tattoo.
www.texastribune.org
June 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
New: Two months ago, a cadre of Texas and federal authorities crashed what they later described as a Tren de Aragua gathering in Hays County and detained 47 people, including kids.
Since, the authorities involved in the raid have not said much.
🧵
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/t...
Since, the authorities involved in the raid have not said much.
🧵
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/t...
New: Texas would further cement its role in enforcing immigration laws under a bill the state Legislature voted to send to the governor Sunday that would require most sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
more here:
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/t...
more here:
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/t...
Bill requiring that Texas sheriffs work with federal immigration authorities heads to governor’s desk
Senate Bill 8 would further expand the state’s role in enforcing immigration laws, long the sole jurisdiction of the federal government.
www.texastribune.org
June 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
New: Texas would further cement its role in enforcing immigration laws under a bill the state Legislature voted to send to the governor Sunday that would require most sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
more here:
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/t...
more here:
www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/t...
A Texas Senate panel today advanced a bill that would no longer allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. Out-of-state tuition is typically three times more expensive than in-state tuition.
via @jessicapriest.bsky.social + @aydenrunnels.bsky.social
via @jessicapriest.bsky.social + @aydenrunnels.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 1:26 AM
A Texas Senate panel today advanced a bill that would no longer allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition. Out-of-state tuition is typically three times more expensive than in-state tuition.
via @jessicapriest.bsky.social + @aydenrunnels.bsky.social
via @jessicapriest.bsky.social + @aydenrunnels.bsky.social
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
20 years ago, Texas studied immigration and found that undocumented immigrants' economic contributions outweighed their costs. Now, for the first time since, Texas may conduct a similar study — but only focus on the costs.
Texas may study the impact of immigration again, but focus only on costs
The only time the state conducted such an assessment two decades ago, it found that undocumented Texans contributed more to the state’s economy than they cost the state.
www.texastribune.org
April 23, 2025 at 2:30 AM
20 years ago, Texas studied immigration and found that undocumented immigrants' economic contributions outweighed their costs. Now, for the first time since, Texas may conduct a similar study — but only focus on the costs.
New: Texas is one step closer to studying the impact of immigration on the state for the first time in almost two decades, but might exclude from the assessment the benefits that undocumented immigrants contribute to the state’s economy.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/22/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/22/t...
Texas may study the impact of immigration again, but focus only on costs
The only time the state conducted such an assessment two decades ago, it found that undocumented Texans contributed more to the state’s economy than they cost the state.
www.texastribune.org
April 23, 2025 at 1:25 AM
New: Texas is one step closer to studying the impact of immigration on the state for the first time in almost two decades, but might exclude from the assessment the benefits that undocumented immigrants contribute to the state’s economy.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/22/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/22/t...
New: Gov. Greg Abbott gave President Donald Trump credit when Texas closed a border site for booking migrants. But arrests were already low, records show.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/t...
April 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
New: Gov. Greg Abbott gave President Donald Trump credit when Texas closed a border site for booking migrants. But arrests were already low, records show.
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/14/t...
It all starts with a flush of a toilet: El Paso is about to embark on a whole new way to save its limited water supply
via mi tocaya @alereports.bsky.social:
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/e...
via mi tocaya @alereports.bsky.social:
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/e...
Toilet to tap: El Paso is about to embark on a whole new way to save its limited water supply
El Paso’s dry climate — it rains just 9 inches annually — is one of the reasons the city has taken water management so seriously.
www.texastribune.org
April 14, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It all starts with a flush of a toilet: El Paso is about to embark on a whole new way to save its limited water supply
via mi tocaya @alereports.bsky.social:
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/e...
via mi tocaya @alereports.bsky.social:
www.texastribune.org/2025/04/10/e...
Reposted by Alejandro Serrano
“Great journalism isn’t exclusive.”
Love this message from @serranoalej.bsky.social and @arelisrhdz.bsky.social during our student workshop today.
Love this message from @serranoalej.bsky.social and @arelisrhdz.bsky.social during our student workshop today.
March 28, 2025 at 9:43 PM
“Great journalism isn’t exclusive.”
Love this message from @serranoalej.bsky.social and @arelisrhdz.bsky.social during our student workshop today.
Love this message from @serranoalej.bsky.social and @arelisrhdz.bsky.social during our student workshop today.
After four prosecutors and nearly six years, El Paso DA decided it’s time to stop pursuing the death penalty for the mass shooter who in 2019 killed 23 people in a local Walmart and said he wanted “to shoot as many Mexicans as possible.”
via @ujohnnyg.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/t...
via @ujohnnyg.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/t...
After four prosecutors and nearly six years, El Paso DA decides it’s time to stop pursuing the death penalty for mass shooter
The new DA campaigned on seeking the death penalty for the 2019 massacre, but said he offered the gunman a plea deal of life in prison to avoid dragging out the case for several more years.
www.texastribune.org
March 26, 2025 at 1:17 AM
After four prosecutors and nearly six years, El Paso DA decided it’s time to stop pursuing the death penalty for the mass shooter who in 2019 killed 23 people in a local Walmart and said he wanted “to shoot as many Mexicans as possible.”
via @ujohnnyg.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/t...
via @ujohnnyg.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/25/t...
87 degrees in mid-March feels a bit much imho
March 24, 2025 at 12:33 AM
87 degrees in mid-March feels a bit much imho
Five years after Texas’ first COVID death, the state spends less on public health, vaccination rates have dropped and a distrust of authority has taken hold.
this is an incredible read via @eleanorklib.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/t...
this is an incredible read via @eleanorklib.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/t...
After COVID, Texas is less prepared for the next pandemic
Five years after Texas’ first COVID death, the state spends less on public health, vaccination rates have dropped and a distrust of authority has taken hold.
www.texastribune.org
March 19, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Five years after Texas’ first COVID death, the state spends less on public health, vaccination rates have dropped and a distrust of authority has taken hold.
this is an incredible read via @eleanorklib.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/t...
this is an incredible read via @eleanorklib.bsky.social
www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/t...