Stella M. Chávez
Immigration/Demographics ReporterStella M. Chávez is KERA’s immigration/demographics reporter. Her journalism roots run deep.
She spent a decade and a half in newspapers – including seven years at The Dallas Morning News, where she covered education and won the Livingston Award for National Reporting, which is given annually to the best journalists across the country under age 35. The award-winning entry was “Yolanda’s Crossing,” a seven-part DMN series she co-wrote that reconstructs the 5,000-mile journey of a young Mexican sexual-abuse victim from a small Oaxacan village to Dallas.
For the last two years, she worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,where she was part of the agency’s outreach efforts on the Affordable Care Act and ran the regional office’s social media efforts.
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The U.S. Department of State-run program known as Welcome Corps allows U.S. citizens or permanent residents to sponsor a refugee or refugee family. Texas is one of the states leading the way in the number of application submissions.
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The Texas-based nonprofit Children at Risk and other child advocates around the country have been critical of the state's practice of busing migrant families. They urge leaders to coordinate with agencies in other states.
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The American Business Immigration Coalition Action is calling on President Biden to grant work permits to undocumented immigrants who've worked in the U.S. for years.
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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is raising its fees for work visas and green cards for the first time in more than 7 years.
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The legal battle over SB4, which gives local and state police the authority to arrest someone suspected of illegally entering Texas, has become an emotional roller coaster.
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Police officials said some of the anti-war protestors were charged with obstructing a roadway and otherswere charged with criminal trespass.
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The “We Will Resist” campaign, which includes the Border Network for Human Rights and other immigrant advocate organizations has been traveling the state, calling for the repeal of Senate Bill 4 and the end of Operation Lone Star.
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The Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAChas given at least $385,000 to North Texas candidates running against GOP incumbents who supported Paxton impeachment.
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The Mexican Consulate in Dallas is helping people register to vote in this year's Mexican election. An estimated 12 million Mexican citizens in the U.S. are eligible.
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The bill includes money for aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as well as funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza and other conflict zones. It also gives the president the authority to “shut down the border” if the number of migrant crossings reaches a certain daily limit.
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The Biden administration and other defendants want a lawsuit brought by Texas and other states that could keep Central American children and their parents apart dismissed.
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The ACLU of Texas and other civil rights groups are trying to block Texas from implementing Senate Bill 4, which makes unauthorized entry into the state a crime.