Austin Mother Deported With U.S. Citizen Children

Looking for traces of the vanished Denisse Parra Vargas

"...citizens – was a quick and quiet affair. Undocumented immigrants don’t leave much of a paper trail. In America,..."

May 16, 2025 News Feature by Maggie Quinlan

ICE Quietly Renews 10-Year Contract With T. Don Hutto Detention Center

Taylor prison houses largely asylum-seeking women and has been the subject of numerous accusations of abuse

"...The immigrant prison houses largely asylum­-seeking women and has been the..."

Aug. 21, 2020 News Feature by Mary Tuma

The Infiltrators

Reckless, heroic, or both? Immigration center story told through reconstruction and fly-on-the-wall footage

"...of a bold and elaborate scheme by the National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA) to get him into Florida’s Broward..."

April 3, 2020 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

ICE Draws Fire for “Sham” Detention Contracts

Local groups say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shouldn't get away with sidestepping federal protocol

"...Dec. 5, organizations including Grassroots Leadership, RAICES, Austin DSA Immigrant Rights Committee, and the Austin Sanctuary Network urge U.S...."

Dec. 13, 2019 News Feature by Mary Tuma

Grassroots Leadership Sues to See Contract Between ICE and CoreCivic

The organization hopes to shine light on ICE and the T. Don Hutto facility

"...Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, for housing detained immigrants. Even after two Freedom of Information Act filings by..."

Sept. 20, 2019 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

How to Help Detained Migrant Families

Make an impact by contributing to these advocacy groups

"...The ACLU wants you to call your senator. Their..."

July 15, 2019 News Post by Katelyn Landry

Immigrant Women Stuck in Detention

T. Don Hutto detainees can't get their day in court

"...under the executive branch's Department of Justice (and virulently anti-immigrant Attorney General Jeff Sessions). They don't provide for things..."

Jan. 26, 2018 News Feature by Mary Tuma

DPS Troopers Push Undocumented Immigrants Into a Deportation Pipeline

Spike in traffic stops raises concerns about racial profiling, faulty record keeping, and the damage done to families

"...Department of Public Safety troopers are rounding up undocumented immigrants on the state's highways and roads and pushing them..."

June 2, 2017 News Feature by Debbie Nathan

Fighting Family Detention

On June 1, a judge will consider whether to allow detention centers to be licensed as child-care facilities

"...the controversial practice of "family detention": incarcerating undocumented female immigrants along with their children. The families have not been..."

May 27, 2016 News Feature by Dina Samir Shehata

Choosing Detention Over Death

Refugees come to the U.S. seeking protection, find detention instead

"...M, like so many other immigrants and refugees, was apprehended by Customs & Border Protection..."

Dec. 25, 2015 News Feature by Dina Samir Shehata

ICE Still in Austin

Travis County Commissioners Court asks sheriff to stop honoring ICE detainer requests

"...deemed too aggressive in aiding the deportation of undocumented immigrants – including those detained only on mere misdemeanors but..."

Oct. 30, 2015 News Feature by Tony Cantú

New Name, Same Game

S-Comm's end hasn't lessened the fear of deportation for Travis County's immigrants

"...assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement with deportations by holding immigrants in custody until ICE agents could pick them up..."

July 10, 2015 News Feature by Tony Cantú

The End of Family Detention?

Positive changes coming, but some say it's not enough

"...Immigrant advocates applauded changes to the Obama administration's family detention..."

July 3, 2015 News Feature by Tony Cantú

News Roundup: John Legend, the FBI, and Paul Pryor

Legend calls for criminal justice reform; Pryor passes away

"...“Payoff: How Congress Ensures Private Prison Profit with an Immigrant Detention Quota” reports that 62% of all Immigration and..."

April 20, 2015 News Post by the News Staff

Detainees Strike for Freedom

Hunger strikes call attention to plight of women and children refugees

"...the practice of profit-driven prisons housing refugees, galvanizing Austin immigrant advocates to take action on several fronts, calling for..."

April 17, 2015 News Feature by Tony Cantú

Barbara's Fire

Attorney, teacher, and veteran fighter for freedom, Barbara Hines retires from a career mentoring students

"...switching her focus to the similarly polarizing issue of immigrants' rights...."

Dec. 12, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

S-Comm Emails

Sheriff and ICE eager pen pals

"...has led to the deportation of some 5,000 undocumented immigrants since 2009 – Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton often..."

Oct. 10, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

S-Comm "Roll Calls" Raise New Questions

Data released leads to more questions than answers

"...Unsurprisingly, Mexican immigrants represent the largest percentage of those in the county..."

Sept. 19, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

S-Comm: Hamilton Fans Backlash

Sheriff Hamilton continues to back S-Comm, even as sheriffs across the country reject it

"...– designed to help federal immigration officials deport undocumented immigrants – was less notable for its official action than..."

July 11, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

Cold as ICE

Sheriff Greg Hamilton stoutly defends the 'Secure Communities' deportation mill. But growing public and official opposition is working to shut down the line.

"...Immigrant rights advocates keep a running tally...."

July 4, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

Hamilton Digs In: Won't End 'S-Comm'

Travis County Sheriff bucks opposition

"...Immigrants' rights advocates applauded last week's action by City Council,..."

July 4, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

Council Slams ‘S-Comm’

Unanimous vote rejects county participation in deportation program

"...and Customs Enforcement agency, ostensibly designed to identify undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds, and to target them for deportation...."

June 27, 2014 News Post by Tony Cantú

Despite Opposition, Sheriff 'S-Comm' Hamilton Rolls On

Hamilton holds firm despite 3rd Circuit ruling

"...U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. To accomplish that, arrestees' fingerprints are..."

May 30, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

The AggreGAYtor: April 3

What happened today in gay? Here’s your QILTBAG recap of queer news.

"...the other thing Congress did besides the ACA, LGBTQ immigrant detainees are less likely to experience rape or sexual..."

April 3, 2014 Qmmunity Post by David Estlund

Big Brother Sets Eyes on Immigrants

Footage from last week's capitol demo against new detention center

"...A crowd of Texas immigrant and civil rights organizations rallied together on the steps..."

June 27, 2011 News Post by Katie Tomasino

Judge and OAS Find T. Don Hutto Lacking

Judicial oversight of the T. Don Hutto immigration detention center ends soon – then what?

"...Taylor, a real prison repurposed in 2006 to incarcerate immigrant families detained by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. First..."

Aug. 7, 2009 News Feature by Patricia J. Ruland

Naked City

"...• During the citizens' comments segment of Tuesday's meeting, immigrant rights activists told the Travis Co. Commissioners Court how..."

Feb. 8, 2008 News Feature

WilCo's Latest Snafu

Illegal workers and sexual assault – just another WilCo contract

"...Don Hutto Family Residential Center, a detention facility for immigrant families in Taylor, has employed undocumented workers, as well..."

Nov. 2, 2007 News Feature by Patricia J. Ruland

Opposition to Immigrant Detention Centers Mounts

Georgia detention center, Texas' usual suspects in spotlight

"...after a weeklong, 105-mile march to protest treatment of detainees at the private, for-profit facility operated by Corrections Corpor­ation..."

Oct. 5, 2007 News Feature by Patricia J. Ruland

Opposition to Immigrant Detention Centers Mounting

"...after a weeklong 105-mile march to protest treatment of detainees at the private, for-profit facility operated by Corrections Corpor­ation..."

Sept. 27, 2007 News Post by Patricia J. Ruland

1   2     NEXT ›    2 »