Immigration Crisis: The Fight for the Southern Border

Under the cover of darkness, migrants follow the light of a single flashlight - The Migrants' Moon. Edward R. Murrow Award winners Paul Sanchez and Yami Virgin take you to the front lines of the border crisis. From Shelby Park, alongside journalist Jordan Elder, we witness what appears to be a quiet downsizing of state presence in a location once at the heart of the migrant surge. Meanwhile, as ca...

A West Texas sheriff reports a rise in migrant activity, a park in Eagle Pass reopens after months of closure for border security operations, and the DPS director gives an update on what troopers are seeing in South Texas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this week's Texas Border Watch, state agencies spar over cartel activity on islands claimed as Texas land along the border, a new DPS unit is being proposed, and Army vehicles roll in to West Texas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

An exclusive investigation reveals troubling allegations of student visa fraud and ineligible Australian athletes - so-called “punters” - taking U.S. college football scholarships from qualified American and other international students. Experts point to Prokick Australia as a potential player in the controversy, raising serious questions about NCAA integrity and the future of fair competition. Wh...

In this week's Texas Border Watch, we're breaking down an illegal border crossing attempt police say was first-of-its-kind. Plus, a new look at the military vehicles sent to the border and an explanation of what happens once migrants get their removal orders. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

With border crossings at record lows, Border Patrol shifts its focus as processing centers close. Meanwhile, the federal government moves military resources to the border and Gulf Coast. We also explore new immigration warrants targeting migrants with criminal records and what happens when law enforcement stops an undocumented individual. Our Yami Virgin and Photojournalist Paul Sanchez have anoth...

Several Texas border bills are under consideration in the state legislature. One proposal aims to create a database of undocumented children crossing the border and establish interviews to ensure they are not trafficking victims. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this week's Texas Border Watch, the buoys are shifting to federal hands, new warnings are going out to South Texas ranchers about explosive devices, and egg smuggling is on the rise at border checkpoints. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

We report from the International Bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas as migrants who entered the US illegally are handed over to Mexican Immigration. Plus, an exclusive look at the declining deportation numbers and what’s causing the decline. And Oklahoma’s governor fires State Board of Education members over political immigration tensions, while new immigration laws take shape beyond Texas. Yami Virgin a...

More federal and state forces are heading to the Southern border. The federal government previously announced that 1,500 active-duty service members, along with air and intelligence assets, would be assisting troops already conducting enforcement operations. Last week, Department of Defense officials agreed to send another 1,500 troops, bringing the total to about 3,600 active duty troops at the b...

This exclusive report takes you inside the U.S. border enforcement process, revealing what happens when migrants are deported or expelled at the U.S.-Mexico border by the US Border Patrol. We also investigate how human traffickers or “Coyotes” repeatedly evade justice and explore Governor Abbott’s long-term border strategy under the new Trump administration. Edward R. Murrow and Emmy-winning journ...

We uncover the dangers of cartel activity in Tamaulipas, Mexico, including the use of explosives impacting American businesses. With the raw interviews of Patricia Driscoll, a security contractor, and former FBI agent Jorge Luis Cisneros, who now owns a company that secures businesses on both sides of the border, we get insight into how cartel actions influence daily life and explore the potential...

In an exclusive interview, Chief Jason Owens shares insights after announcing his retirement from the Border Patrol. Today, the Border Sheriffs Coalition sent a letter to Governor Abbott, urging him to name Chief Owens as the new Border Czar. This comes as the current Border Czar, Michael Banks, has been tapped by the Trump administration to lead the Border Patrol. See Privacy Policy at https://ar...

Beth Watkins, a legal trailblazer and former Justice of the Fourth Court of Appeals, joins us to discuss one of Texas' most urgent legal challenges. Elected in 2018, she authored over 600 opinions with a remarkable reversal rate of under 1%. Before her judicial career, she led more than 200 appeals in state and federal courts, earning Board Certification in Civil Appellate Law in 2008. In the seco...

A video showing a Border Patrol agent allegedly kneeing a K9 at the Falfurrias Checkpoint has gone viral, sparking widespread outrage online. The footage, which surfaced last week, depicts the agent appearing to place her knee on the dog multiple times. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A legal powerhouse who has profoundly impacted Texas law joins us this week—former Justice Beth Watkins of the Fourth Court of Appeals. Elected in 2018, she has authored over 600 opinions and maintained an impressive reversal rate of less than 1%. Before joining the court, she led more than 200 appeals in both state and federal courts, earning Board Certification in Civil Appellate Law in 2008. As...

A federal judge in Texas made a big ruling about funding for the border wall and what the Biden Administration can and cannot use it for. This latest ruling says the Biden administration can’t sell any materials intended for the border wall and can’t assign funds that Congress dedicated to border wall construction for any other purposes. This lawsuit was originally filed by Texas and Missouri in 2...

We delve into the complexities of the U.S.-Mexico border, where perspectives from the American side are often limited. To truly understand the realities, one must sometimes cross over. We highlight the courageous work of journalists on the Mexican side, who risk their lives to report the truth. Among them is John Ritchie of ImpactoVision, who broadcasts live from the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Te...

In this week's Texas Border Watch, Jordan Elder looks into how many miles of border wall have been completed in the last few years and the hurdles Texas faces in completing the project. We'll also show you the new billboards Gov. Greg Abbott is rolling out in other countries to deter illegal immigration. Meanwhile, Canada is investing $1.3 billion to bolster border security amid tariff threats. Se...

Terrell County is a remote area 120 miles west of Del Rio where Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland and his small team work tirelessly to secure over 2,400 square miles of rugged terrain. As the “Smuggler’s Moon” brings increased border activity, we witness firsthand the challenges law enforcement faces, from tracking migrants left by coyotes to combating limited resources. Locals, like café owner Jake Har...

A government surplus company called GovPlanet recently listed pieces of the border wall for auction. These auction posts, which have since been removed, fueled debates about why border wall materials weren’t set aside for future use or new construction. President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to continue building the wall, publicly condemned the sales of unused pieces during a Monday press c...

Are all migrants and asylum seekers who enter the US through the southern border really going north? We speak with Pamela Allen, the CEO of Eagle’s Flight Advocacy, who is experiencing a surge in families seeking essentials like diapers, food, and clothing, reflecting a possible shift in migration trends. Allen also tells us that there is concern about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and their...

Yami Virgin investigates the state of immigration along the southern border as large migrant groups are expected ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s term. Over the past five months, border crossings have averaged 200-300 daily in the Del Rio area, with overall numbers declining since President Biden’s June executive order restricting asylum for unlawful crossings. These measures, paired with p...

We hear what the new Border Czar, Tom Homan, told soldiers and DPS troopers in Eagle Pass just before Thanksgiving. We also examine the new border buoys placed in the Rio Grande, which mysteriously disappeared shortly after their installation. Additionally, we question whether National Guard members are violating policy by using Pepper Ball Launchers on migrants, including families with babies and...

A new command post has been built because of the shifting access points along the border between Texas and Mexico. We talk about renewed security concerns with individuals on the terror watch list caught crossing into Texas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .