Democratic members of Congress held a field hearing in Austin on October 15 to investigate multiple ICE shootings across Texas, including the September 20 shooting of Wilber Garcés-Pérez in Austin. Witnesses included family members and attorneys from immigration advocacy groups.
Greg Casar, U.S. Representative (D-Texas), led the hearing; Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Representative (D-Mississippi), Ranking Member of House Committee on Homeland Security; Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative (D-Washington), Ranking Member of Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement and 10 more
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a nationwide tax fraud crackdown involving 76 defendants and more than $490 million in estimated intended losses to the federal government. The operation, called the National Tax Enforcement Surge, included 23 new charging actions against 31 defendants involving more than $350 million in estimated intended losses, and 39 enforcement actions involving 45 defendants and nearly $140 million in estimated intended losses.
$$490 million for estimated intended losses in federal tax fraud enforcement surge
U.S. Department of Justice, Announced and coordinated nationwide tax fraud enforcement; Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General; Todd Blanche, Attorney General and 3 more
The FBI raided homes of over 40 residents in North Texas as part of an investigation into an alleged North Korean "laptop farm" scheme. Approximately 187 laptops were seized. The scheme allegedly involved North Korean IT workers using stolen or falsified American identities to remotely access U.S. corporate systems and work remote U.S. jobs, with profits going to North Korea's government.
FBI, conducting investigation and raids; U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, overseeing investigation; Ryan Raybould, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail pleaded not guilty to charges including wire fraud, embezzlement, kickback conspiracy, and money laundering related to alleged theft of almost $16 million from Loretto Hospital in Chicago. Their arraignment came after news reports linked them to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate.
$Almost $16 million for alleged theft from Loretto Hospital
Anosh Ahmed, Former Loretto Hospital chief financial officer, charged in superseding indictment; Sameer Suhail, Medical doctor and medical supplier to Loretto Hospital, charged in superseding indictment; U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez, Presided over arraignment and 3 more
The Pentagon announced plans to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people in a 2009 attack at Fort Hood. The execution is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. CST and would be the first military execution by any method since 1961 and the first by firing squad since 1945. The announcement has drawn objections from religious leaders and other officials.
Nidal Hasan, former Army psychiatrist scheduled for execution; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense who introduced the livestream plan; President Donald Trump, said he will make final decision on livestream and 5 more
The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14, 2026, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The Senate received the bill July 15 and referred it to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. As of October 5, no vote had been scheduled in committee or on the Senate floor. Texas passed House Bill 1393 in 2025, which allows permanent daylight saving time, but it cannot take effect without federal law changes. Daylight saving time ends November 1, 2026.
U.S. House of Representatives, Passed Sunshine Protection Act; U.S. Senate, Received bill and referred to committee; Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Reviewing the bill and 2 more
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced it will stop enforcing federal National Firearms Act prior-approval, registration, and tax-stamp requirements for short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers. The nationwide policy took effect immediately following an August court ruling by a federal judge in Texas.
$Congress reduced NFA making and transfer taxes to $0 for most covered firearms through Section 70436 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective January 1, 2026; machine guns and destructive devices retain the $200 tax.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Announced end of NFA enforcement; U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, Issued August 5 ruling on NFA registration requirements; Attorney General Todd Blanche, Announced Department of Justice would not appeal court decision and 1 more
A poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports and Our Republic on September 20 found that 43% of likely voters aged 18-24 view Islamic Sharia law positively, compared to 57% of all-age voters who view it negatively. The results were released ahead of the November 3 election.
Rasmussen Reports, Polling organization; Our Republic, Nonprofit organization that conducted poll; Chip Roy, U.S. Representative, R-Texas, responded to findings and 2 more
Edward Dubrovsky, a Canadian cybersecurity executive and ransomware expert, was arrested in the Philadelphia area on federal charges including extortion conspiracy and threats. He was transferred to Texas for a scheduled detention hearing. The arrest is part of an FBI investigation into ShinyHunters, a hacking group suspected of stealing FBI employee data.
Edward Dubrovsky, Canadian cybersecurity executive and ransomware expert arrested on federal charges; FBI Director Kash Patel, Announced arrest as part of investigation into ShinyHunters hacking group; Federal authorities, Arrested Dubrovsky and investigating the hacking incident
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX-4) introduced H.R. 10777 to codify policies combating transnational cyber-enabled crime. The bill was referred to the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs committees.
Rep. Pat Fallon, U.S. Representative (R-TX-4), bill introducer
A Texas federal judge ruled in August that federal permitting rules for silencers, short-barreled rifles, and certain other firearms were unconstitutional. On Friday, the Justice Department announced it would no longer enforce these registration requirements nationwide, following the court's decision and elimination of the $200 permit tax by Congress and President Trump.
U.S. District Judge James Hendrix, Texas federal judge who ruled permitting process unconstitutional; Justice Department, Announced easing of registration requirements; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Announced new enforcement posture and 3 more
Three Democratic-controlled cities and a legal aid group filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court on October 9, 2026, seeking to revive a Biden-era immigration regulation that was eliminated through a deal between Texas and the Trump administration. The cities accuse Texas and the Justice Department of collusion in dismantling the rule.
Baltimore, Democratic-controlled city filing emergency application; Columbus, Ohio, Democratic-controlled city filing emergency application; New Haven, Connecticut, Democratic-controlled city filing emergency application and 7 more
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton said during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists that he would support cuts to federal benefits programs to reduce the national deficit. Audio from the Sept. 24 event was recorded by an attendee and leaked to The Texas Tribune.
Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democratic opponent
Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, an Afghan citizen residing in Fort Worth, pleaded guilty to transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. During a November 2025 video chat, he claimed he was planning a suicide bombing attack targeting infidels and Americans.
$$250,000 for maximum fine
Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, Afghan citizen charged with threatening communication; Ryan Raybould, U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Texas; Jeffrey L. Cureton, U.S. Magistrate Judge and 1 more
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected bids by Austin Community College and Students for Affordable Tuition to join the Department of Justice's lawsuit against Texas over its Dream Act. The court ruled that fighting the decision would be futile. The case involves whether immigrants without legal status can pay in-state tuition at Texas universities.
U.S. Department of Justice, Plaintiff suing Texas over Dream Act; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Declined to fight the suit, effectively ending the law; Austin Community College, Sought to join the lawsuit and 4 more
Texas received $30,146,655 in federal funding through the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to continue providing voluntary home visiting programs that support parents and improve outcomes for families and young children.
$$30,146,655 for federal funding for home visiting services through MIECHV program
Health Resources and Services Administration, Federal agency awarding funding; Tom Engels, HRSA Administrator
President Donald Trump ordered the execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan, a former US Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009. The Pentagon announced the execution will take place at Fort Hood on December 3 and will be livestreamed.
Donald Trump, US President who ordered the execution; Nidal Malik Hasan, Former US Army psychiatrist convicted of the shooting; Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary who recommended the execution and 1 more
President Trump signed an executive order Thursday allowing anyone to purchase tax-free red-dyed diesel for use on public roads, typically restricted to off-road equipment. The order aims to lower diesel costs for truckers, farmers, and businesses amid high fuel prices.
$The executive order removes federal tax on red-dyed diesel for all road use, eliminating a 24.4 cents-per-gallon federal tax.
President Trump, signed executive order; Gov. Greg Abbott, issued prior Texas statewide disaster proclamation; Joel Rifkin, North Texas truck driver, owner of Run Amok Transportation
Hundreds of people marched on San Antonio's East Side on Saturday to protest a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. Local officials are considering legal action to halt the facility.
$$37.6 million for property appraisal value
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor supporting legal action against ICE facility; Bexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Commissioner organizing march and pushing county to sue; Father Jimmy Drennan, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, addressed protesters and 3 more
Texas Secretary of State David Whitley met with U.S. Census Bureau regional and local representatives to discuss achieving a complete count for Texas in the 2020 Census. Whitley received updates on local outreach efforts and strategies for reaching hard-to-count populations.
David Whitley, Texas Secretary of State; Rebecca Briscoe, U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Coordinator; Maria Campos, U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist and 1 more