Valerie Gonzalez

Judge weighs Trump administration's request to end protections for immigrant children A judge is considering a Trump administration request to end a policy protecting immigrant children in federal custody.

NEW: A fed judge weighing Trump administration's request to end protections for immigrant children asked the government why time in custody is high despite low crossings.

“It seems counterintuitive that should happen unless it’s willful,” the judge asked.
apnews.com/article/trum...

As Trump's raids ramp up, a Texas region's residents stay inside — even when they need medical care As the Trump administration intensifies deportation activity around the country, some immigrants — including many who have lived in Texas’s southern tip for decades — are unwilling to leave their home...

As the Trump administration intensifies deportation activity around the country, some immigrants — including many who have lived in the RGV for decades — are unwilling to leave their homes, even for necessary medical care.

✍️: AP’s Amanda Seitz/Jacquelyn Martin

apnews.com/article/trum...

Attorneys sue to restore deportation protections for abused and neglected migrant children Legal advocates have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to restore deportation protection for migrant children and youth who suffered parental abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

NEW: Attorneys sue to restore deportation protections for abused and neglected migrant children

apnews.com/article/immi...

Federal lawsuit seeks to stop ICE agents from arresting people at immigration courts A group immigrants and legal advocates have filed a class-action lawsuit that seeks to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from arresting migrants who appear at immigration courts for pr...

NEW: Immigrants and legal advocates filed a class-action lawsuit to stop ICE officers from arresting migrants who appear at immigration courts for previously scheduled hearings and placing them on a fast-track to deportation.

via AP's Martha Bellisle

apnews.com/article/immi...

Some tragic news: BP agent from the Rio Grande Valley drowned after saving his children caught in a rip current at SPI.

Man with an assault rifle killed after shooting at a Border Patrol facility in Texas Authorities say a 27-year-old man was killed after opening fire at a U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.

Update: Hours before the shooting at the McAllen border patrol station, police in Weslaco stopped the gunman’s father who was concerned and looking for his son. He told police he psychological issues and had weapons in his car.

apnews.com/article/mcal...

Apparent immigration raid at warehouse construction site sends people running across I-35 An apparent immigration enforcement operation at a warehouse construction site near mile marker 13 led to chaos Thursday morning as people were seen running from the area and crossing a busy stretch o...

An apparent immigration enforcement operation at a Laredo warehouse construction site led to chaos Thursday morning, sending people running from the area and crossing a busy highway.

Via @kgnsnews.bsky.social

www.kgns.tv/2025/06/26/a...

The 16 year old is an English speaking Valley resident and cheerleader at her high school before she was arrested at a BP checkpoint during a family spring break roadtrip. She told legal advocates she is trying to keep it together under immense pressure like Luisa from Encanto.

This is the first insight into conditions at these detention centers since they started taking families in March.

One 16 year old from Donna, TX held with her mom and two siblings said an adult pushed her 12 year old sister to try to get bottled water first.

New insight into Texas family detention reveals adults fighting kids for clean water A new court filing in an ongoing legal dispute with the federal government reveals the psychological and physical trauma endured by children and families held at Texas family detention centers.

NEW: Adults fighting kids for clean water, despondent toddlers and a child with swollen feet denied a medical exam - these first-hand accounts from immigrant families are offering a glimpse at conditions in TX detention centers. according to court filing.

apnews.com/article/migr...

Trump administration hit with second lawsuit over restrictions on asylum access The Trump administration is facing a second lawsuit over the shutdown of asylum at ports of entry, a legal pathway created by Congress under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Just in: Immigration advocates filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday over the Trump administration’s use of a proclamation that effectively put an end to being able to seek asylum at ports of entry to the United States.

apnews.com/article/immi...

Trump administration investigates border shelters for smuggling, then sends them more immigrants The Trump administration has been releasing people charged with being in the country illegally to nongovernmental shelters along the U.S. border with Mexico after telling those organizations that prov...

New: Trump administration investigates border shelters for smuggling, then sends them more immigrants. This time, ICE is releasing adults and families, mostly from internal operations, to shelters in Phoenix, Laredo, & El Paso.

Reporting with @elliotspagat.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/bord...

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 The Trump Administration just filed a motion to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, a 1997 landmark court order that protects children in immigration detention. An end to Flores would put kids in danger of indefinite detention and subject them to cruel & inhumane treatment.

Trump administration seeks to end protections for immigrant children in federal custody The Trump administration is seeking to end an immigration policy cornerstone that since the 1990s has offered protections to child migrants in federal custody, a move that will be challenged by advoca...

Breaking: Federal government just filed to end Flores Settlement Agreement, a policy that has assured migrant children in federal custody are kept in safe conditions since the 90s.

apnews.com/article/immi...

Moody's strips U.S. government of top credit rating, citing Washington's failure to rein in debt Moody’s Ratings stripped the U.S. government of its top credit rating Friday, citing successive governments’ failure to stop a rising tide of debt.

BREAKING: Moody's strips the U.S. government of top credit rating, saying presidents and lawmakers have failed to reverse rising debts.

Suit challenges new rules on children in federal custody who crossed into US Two advocacy groups for migrants have filed a federal lawsuit asking the courts to halt new Trump Administration vetting procedures for reuniting children who crossed into the U.S. without their paren...

Breaking: A lawsuit was just filed by @youthlaw.bsky.social and @democracyforward.org challenging ORR policies that have prohibited release of numerous children to their families.

In past 3 months, average custody times for children in ORR grew from 37 days to 112.

apnews.com/article/immi...

You heard right. That was on Tuesday in Colorado.

Some context on how much time others were given to fight the designation:

Story: Venezuelans subject to removal under wartime act have 12 hours to decide on contesting, docs show.

apnews.com/article/immi...

This is what the notice looks like.

BREAKING: The US is now only giving migrants 12 hours to decide whether they want to contest removal under the wartime authority, Alien Enemies Act, down from 24 hours. The government attempted to seal the document but judge just unsealed it.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño today shared his opposition to bill HB 4660 affecting beach access in Boca Chica beach near Spacex.

Context on bills by KRGV’s Christian von Preysing: krgv.com/videos/new-bil…

An important note on the possible future use of the Alien Enemies Act, via @elliotspagat.bsky.social:

Judges to bar US from using Alien Enemies Act to deport some Venezuelans held in Texas and New York Judges in Texas and New York said they would temporarily bar the U.S. government from deporting Venezuelans jailed in parts of those two states while their lawyers challenge the Trump administration’s...

New: Judges in TX and NY temporarily barred the US from deporting Venezuelans jailed in parts of those two states while their lawyers challenge the Trump administration’s use of a rarely-invoked law letting presidents imprison and deport noncitizens in times of war.
Story: apnews.com/article/trum...

Statement here:

Trump's DHS revokes legal status for migrants who entered the US on Biden-era CBP One app The Department of Homeland Security is telling migrants who entered the country using an online app to leave the United States immediately.

New: Migrants who were temporarily allowed to live in the United States by using a Biden-era online appointment app have been told to leave the country
"immediately," officials said Monday. It was unclear how many beneficiaries would be affected.

apnews.com/article/immi...

At least 4 dead after severe storms in the South Texas-Mexico border region and hundreds rescued Drenching rain along the Texas-Mexico border has let up but rescues are still ongoing after severe storms trapped residents in their homes, forced drivers to abandon their vehicles on flooded roads an...

Story I worked on Friday with @apnews.com’s @valontheborder.bsky.social:

apnews.com/article/texa... At least 4 dead after severe storms in the South Texas-Mexico border region and hundreds rescued

In Curry States, an Hidalgo County colonia, the water turned into a playground for kids who brought out an inflatable and pulled each other. Meanwhile, a day after the heavy rains, residents like Emma Alaniz waited for the water to recede or someone to help pump it out.

Today I spoke with a man who had knee-depth water in his rented Palm Valley home. Despite the hardship of losing valuables, him and his wife worried most about their pets, including an Axolotl which needs a precise water temperature.

Story: apnews.com/article/texa...