Latino Vote Crucial in Texas Senate Race – On the day that early voting began in Texas, President Trump held a rally in Houston for Republican Senator Ted Cruz’s re-election campaign. Although Cruz remains ahead in the polls, his opponent, Democrat Beto O’Rourke, has raised more money and made headlines with his campaign of direct contact with voters. In the final stretch, the conservative state of Texas is considered disputed territory and all eyes are on the Latino electorate. Mariana Pineda reports from Houston.
Arizona’s Latino Candidates in Tight Races and Lacking Party Support – In Arizona, the epicenter of the immigration debate and a solid Republican stronghold, three Latino candidates are competing for high-profile posts. Two are democrats: Professor David Garcia, who is seeking the governorship, and January Contreras, who is vying for attorney general. Meanwhile, Republican Lea Márquez Patterson is seeking a seat in Congress. Something the three candidates have in common is that they are campaigning with their own resources and feel abandoned by their respective parties. Elvia Diaz reports from Phoenix.
Zero Tolerance Immigration Policies Spur Massive Trials Along the Border – At a hearing in an immigration court in Brownsville, Texas, a judge reads the name of each detainee aloud as defendants reply “guilty.” At a crowded session last May, a total of 35 individuals pleaded guilty to illegal entry or re-entry into the country. Zero tolerance policies have led to these hasty deportation trials in federal courts along the border, and the number of criminal prosecutions for the offense of illegal entry is increasing rapidly. These charges are now the most common reason for sentencing to federal prison. Fernando García, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights in El Paso, says that immigrants are being criminalized like never before. This report is part of a special series on the criminal justice system in collaboration with Debbie Nathan and The Justice Collaborative.
