Immigration

Will Effective Border Policies Continue?

Following the drastic spike in migrant apprehensions along the U.S. southwestern border early last year, the federal government implemented measures resulting in an equally steep decrease of unauthorized entries into the country. These measures demonstrated their effectiveness in securing the border and deterring illegal migration—which enhances the safety of not only American residents, but also that of that of thousands of migrants who undertake such dangerous journeys and land in the hands of human smugglers and traffickers. However—and while...

July 21, 2020

Immigration

The Days the Border Stood Still: Slowed Migration During Coronavirus

Almost nothing has remained immune from the global COVID-19 pandemic—including international transit. Countless plans have been canceled due to travel restrictions imposed by nations across the world as a result of the coronavirus. But legitimate international travel is not the only kind that has been affected. Migratory routes utilized by those who enter the United States illegally are experiencing...

May 19, 2020

Local Government

Diplomatic Immunity: Government Overreach Shouldn’t Get a Free Pass Under COVID-19

Government in the United States is taking measures at the federal, state, and local levels to reduce the spread of coronavirus as well as to negate its effects. But are officials forgetting that our government’s primary role is to protect the liberties of its citizens, and not just the citizens themselves?  After law enforcement put a stop...

April 14, 2020

Local Government

Deck City Hall with boughs of folly

The city of Austin has spent nearly $300,000 on holiday parties over the past two years. Officials defended this splurge, saying that city employees deserve recognition for all their hard work. However, a tip from an employee was what spurred an investigation by local news media in the first place. Their analysis yielded an interesting find: the city of...

March 13, 2020

Local Government

An Open Letter to the Next Houston Mayoral Administration: Remember the Taxpayer

In less than a week, Houstonians will once again head to the polls to select their next mayor and chart the city’s course over the next few years. But before voters decide on which direction the city ought to go, they should first understand where it is. To get a sense of things, voters can look to...

December 13, 2019

Local Government

New sick leave ordinance still bad for business

San Antonio’s City Council recently approved revisions to its mandatory paid sick leave ordinance, which is set to go into effect in December. But these changes don’t improve an ordinance that was already bad for local business. The original version required smaller businesses with six to 15 employees to provide up to 48 paid sick...

October 31, 2019

Local Government

Von Ormy, Texas: A Liberty Success Story

Many cities across Texas are racing to max out property tax rates before strong new taxpayer protections take effect early next year. But this isn’t the case in Von Ormy, Texas. That’s because this small town doesn’t collect property taxes. Located south of San Antonio, Von Ormy is flourishing, thanks in large part to its liberty-centric...

October 26, 2019

Local Government

New State Laws Lasso Liberal Local Governments

State lawmakers took aim at liberal local government overreach this past session, and they passed a slew of legislation hoping to rein in some of the worst of it. Among the new laws is one ending forced annexation. For decades, city governments forcibly annexed property on their outskirts in a bid to grow their tax...

September 11, 2019

Local Government

Sick Leave Mandates-Round Two

“Small businesses need the flexibility to work with their employees and offer benefits to keep them competitive,” wrote Andy Ellard of Manda Machine Company to members of the Texas House State Affairs Committee earlier this year. “A one-size-fits-all government mandate is not the answer.” Ellard echoes the sentiments of many small business owners across the...

August 2, 2019