Thursday, October 22, 2026

Texas news, down to the facts.

Early voting is open through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3, 12 days away. Elections

Border & Immigration

Advocacy group proposes $2 billion Big Bend border security fund instead of wall

A newly-launched nonprofit called Let Texans Do Texas proposed creating a $2 billion border security fund for the Big Bend region as an alternative to the Trump administration's border wall plans. The group, whose board includes former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Democratic Presidio County Commissioner candidate Susan Hays, plans to send the proposal to Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas U.S. House members.

Where
Big Bend region, Texas
When
Oct. 22, 2026
Sources
One outlet

Counties: Hudspeth Culberson Jeff Davis Presidio Brewster Terrell Val Verde

Taxes and money

The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.

  • Proposed border security fund$2 billion1 Who pays or receives it: federal government (reallocation of border wall funding)
  • Federal spending for border barriers in Big Bend regionover $7 billion1 Who pays or receives it: federal government

Does this affect you?

Coming up

  • Saturday, October 24, 2026. Group to send proposal letter to elected officials1

Who's involved

  • Let Texans Do Texasnewly-launched advocacy group proposing alternative border security funding
  • Jerry Pattersonformer Texas Land Commissioner and LTDT board member
  • Susan HaysDemocratic candidate for Presidio County Commissioner and LTDT board member
  • Gov. Greg Abbottrecipient of group's proposal letter

The facts

  • Let Texans Do Texas proposes reallocating border wall funding to road improvements, equipment, communications, emergency medical services, vehicles, drones and aircraft.1
  • The group says Big Bend accounted for just 1.3% of apprehensions along the entire southwest border last year.1
  • Congress approved funding for Trump administration border wall plans in 2025.1
  • The proposed trust cannot fund initiatives involving seizure of private property, according to the group's draft legislation.1
  • The participating counties are Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Terrell and Val Verde.1
  • The group's board would be headed by the Secretary of State and include former politicians, landowners and county officials.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Jerry Patterson 200,000 to 700,000 acres of Texas land could be ceded to Mexico if Big Bend border wall were built along Rio Grande.1
  • Susan Hays Walls and soldiers are not a 21st century solution; need local input and economic support instead of destroying Big Bend nature.1
  • Susan Hays Gov. Abbott's Operation Lone Star program has been performative and ineffective.1

Sources

Outlets: 1 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. New advocacy group calls for Big Bend border security fund in lieu of wall Houston Public Media Not rated, October 22, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

Keep reading

Border & ImmigrationSouthern Mexico at Guatemala border

Migrant caravan leaves southern Mexico toward U.S. border

A migrant caravan left Mexico's southern border with Guatemala, with members from Central America and other nations heading toward Mexico. Some migrants said they hope a Democratic midterm election victory would mean a less secure U.S. border.

Julio Rosas, independent journalist who spoke with caravan members; Caravan Without Borders, migrant group

Reported by 2 outletsOnly right-leaning outlets reported thisFound via Google News

Border & ImmigrationLaredo, Webb County; Rio Grande Processing CenterHappened Oct 17

Green card holder dies in ICE custody at Laredo detention center

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, a 56-year-old lawful permanent resident from Dallas, died at the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo after being found unresponsive in his bed. The cause of death is unknown pending an autopsy.

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, deceased detainee, green card holder, Dallas resident; Estefani Andrade, daughter of Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal agency operating the detention facility and 2 more

Reported by 3 outletsFound via Google News

Border & ImmigrationU.S.-Mexico border, including El Paso

Federal agencies restrict drone flights along U.S.-Mexico border

Federal agencies have implemented a temporary flight restriction (TFR) for drone operators along the U.S.-Mexico border, effective through October 2027, citing Mexican cartel drone incursions and risks to border security operations.

Department of Transportation, Federal agency implementing restriction; Department of Defense, Federal agency implementing restriction; Department of Homeland Security, Federal agency implementing restriction and 2 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Border & ImmigrationLaredo, Webb CountyHappened Oct 17

Lawful permanent resident dies in ICE custody in Laredo

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, 56, a lawful permanent resident from Dallas, died Saturday while in custody at the Rio Grande Processing Center in Laredo. He had been detained by ICE since June. The cause of death is pending autopsy results.

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, 56-year-old man who died in ICE custody; Estefani Andrade, Daughter of Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Agency that detained him and 1 more

Reported by 8 outletsOnly left-leaning outlets reported thisFound via Google News

Public SafetyEl Paso County, Texas

El Paso County firefighter charged with sexual assault of minor

A 23-year-old El Paso County firefighter was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of indecent contact with a child. He allegedly met the victim on Instagram and engaged in sexual contact with her on three occasions between May and September 2026.

Andrew Michael Martinez Jr., El Paso County firefighter, arrested and charged; El Paso County Emergency Services District No. 2, former employer

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Elections

Voters report touchscreen voting machine selection issues across states

Reports of voters experiencing touchscreen voting machine errors have circulated on social media during early voting in November midterm elections. Election officials say the issues are nearly always user error or screen miscalibration, not election tampering.

David Becker, Executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research; Election officials, Officials commenting on touchscreen voting machine reports

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

All of today's news