News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Top Stories: Mayors From Across U.S. Gather In Texas To Address Separation Of Families

Julia Reihs
/
KUT
Protesters gathered at the Texas State Capitol to speak out against policies that separate families seeking shelter and asylum at the U.S. border.

The top local stories this morning from KERA News:

Although President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ending the separation of families that cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, the controversy over the treatment of children who have already been detained continues.

Mayors from more than a dozen cities across the country gathered this morning at a holding facility for immigrant children on the Texas-Mexico border, demanding that families that were divided while trying to enter the U.S. be immediately reunited.

New York City's Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles' Eric Garcetti and Democratic mayors from New Mexico's three most populous cities planned to gather on the outskirts of El Paso.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in on Capitol Hill are slated to vote on Republican-led immigration bills today. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro – from San Antonio – said on Morning Edition today he'll vote for a clean immigration bill that addresses reuniting separated families.

“Certainly, if there's a clean bill, I think you'll see Democrats actively supporting that kind of legislation,” Castro said. “But let's be clear – what we have in front of us today in the Congress is not a clean bill at all. It's trying to leverage this situation to get other more Draconian measures passed.”

Legislation on the table today would offer legal status for young unauthorized immigrants known as DREAMer, as well as a path to citizenship for some. It would also direct billions of dollars toward a southern border wall, make cuts to legal immigration and make it harder to seek asylum.

Other stories this morning:

  • Texas Democrats are expected to pack the Fort Worth Convention Center this afternoon for the start of their party's state convention. While it's unlikely Democrats will take over Tarrant County any time soon, many feel optimistic. "In the past, the biggest problem Democrats have had is just not a lot of enthusiasm going into midterms. Now it’s completely opposite,” said Marc Veasey, the lone Democratic member of Congress. The Texas Democratic Party Convention will run through Saturday.

  • One of the most important figures in the history of public television is the subject of a new documentary. This week, our Big Screen team talks about the life and times of Fred Rogers. The documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is in theaters now.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.