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Immigration

Billions on the Border

A Closer Look at Taxpayer-Funded Border Initiatives in Texas

Together with The Texas Tribune and The Marshall Project, ProPublica investigates border initiatives under Gov. Greg Abbott. State funding for border security has swelled from $110 million in 2008-09 to nearly $3 billion for the 2022-23 budget cycle.

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Billions on the Border

DOJ Investigating Texas’ Operation Lone Star for Alleged Civil Rights Violations

Emails obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune confirm that federal authorities are probing discrimination claims involving Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar border initiative.

by Perla Trevizo,

4 stories published since 2022

Reality Check: Seven Times Texas Leaders Misled the Public About Operation Lone Star

by Perla Trevizo and Lomi Kriel, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, Kengo Tsutsumi, ProPublica, and Andrew Rodriguez Calderón, The Marshall Project,

Examining Nearly Two Decades of Taxpayer-Funded Border Operations

by Lomi Kriel and Perla Trevizo, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, and Andrew Rodriguez Calderón, The Marshall Project,

Texas’ Border Operation Is Meant to Deter Cartels and Smugglers. More Often, It Imprisons Lone Men for Trespassing.

by Jolie McCullough, The Texas Tribune,

Texas’ Governor Brags About His Border Initiative. The Data Doesn’t Back Him Up.

by Lomi Kriel and Perla Trevizo, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, and Andrew Rodriguez Calderón and Keri Blakinger, The Marshall Project,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

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Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

Photo of Melissa Sanchez
Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

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