The State of Texas: Governor Abbott is caught in his own duplicity

Plus: The federal government will begin acquiring private land to build President Trump's wall No Images? [Click here]( [For the Love of Food - Uber Eats]( [Texas Monthly]( June 22, 2018 QUOTE OF THE DAY “I Really Don’t Care. Do u?” —The phrase printed on the back of a jacket worn by First Lady Melania Trump as [she boarded a plane]( in Washington that was headed to McAllen, where she visited two facilities that held children separated from their families. THE LATEST [Abbott Caught in His Own Duplicity on Family Separations]( R.G. RATCLIFFE Governor declared only Congress can fix family separations shortly before the president ended the policy. [Read Story]( [For the Love of Food - Uber Eats]( OUR TOP STORIES [Melania Trump Wears “I Really Don’t Care” Jacket on the Way to McAllen Shelter for Immigrant Children]( Her spokesperson claimed ’there was no hidden message.’ And it certainly was not hidden. [Read Story]( [Check Out the New Cookbook Bar & Café at Austin’s Central Library]( Every dish at the restaurant, which opens today, is based on a cookbook recipe thoughtfully chosen by chef Drew Curren. [Read Story]( [Abbott Sets Special Election Date for Carlos Uresti Seat]( The governor has set July 31 as the date in which voters will choose who will fill the vacancy of a lawmaker convicted of multiple federal counts of fraud and money laundering. [Read Story]( MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS... The Wall As the nation was focused on the repercussions of President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy, officials in South Texas were told that the federal government will [begin acquiring private land]( to build the border wall. “They said that they got the money, they got the authority and they’re going to move on trying to acquire the land,” said U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who was in on the briefing. Federal officials told him and others that the government intended to buy or seize enough land to build 33 miles of wall in Hidalgo and Starr counties. We talked to a former U.S. ambassador about [the border wall ]( Water Rescue Members of the Texas National Guard are headed to South Texas to help local authorities with [water rescues]( from the worst flooding since Hurricane Harvey visited the state last year. A deluge has fallen over many parts of South Texas, including Mission, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, and Corpus Christi, prompting people to abandon vehicles in roadways and putting pressure on authorities to help with water rescues. Overwhelmed first responders welcomed the help of National Guard soldiers, who were pre-positioned in key cities throughout Texas. Hurricane Harvey [by the numbers]( Hispanic Domination New U.S. Census estimates show that the Hispanic population in Texas is over 11 million people, and demographers are now projecting that Hispanics will become a [majority population in the state by 2022](. The pace of growth for Hispanics was far greater than for white Texans. Hispanics saw an 18 percent growth since 2010. This compares with a 4 percent growth for whites. The greatest rate of growth, however, was the Asian population, which saw a 42 percent surge since 2010. Hispanics are already a[majority in Texas public schools]( LONGFORM [Stolen Youth: Modern-Day Slavery in Texas]( SONIA SMITH When Given Kachepa first arrived from Zambia as a young boy, he expected to sing in a choir and gain an education. Instead he was forced into servitude. [Read Story]( [A Rising Tide: Palmilla Beach and The Reserve at St. Charles Bay]( [A Rising Tide]( Whether desiring a lock-and-leave second home, a coastal retirement retreat, or an investment property, look no further than the communities of Palmilla Beach in Port Aransas or The Reserve at St. Charles Bay in Rockport. Beachside or bayside—the coastal lifestyle awaits! [Read More]( [For the Love of Food - Uber Eats]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [Southwest Key Hired Child Case Manager Previously Arrested for Child Pornography]( LEIF REIGSTAD [What’s Really Happening When Asylum-Seeking Families Are Separated?]( KATY VINE [Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Illegal Immigration (But Didn’t Know Who to Ask)]( JEFF SALAMON [Come to Feges BBQ for the Sides, Stay for the Meat]( DANIEL VAUGHN [Subscribe to Texas Monthly and Save!]( Get Texas Monthly for $1 an issue. [SUBSCRIBE]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Website]( Texas Monthly PO Box 1569 Austin, TX 78767 Texas Monthly has sent you this alert because you signed up to receive it either online at texasmonthly.com, at the website of one of our business partners, or when you filled out a reader response card. You may opt-out from Texas Monthly newsletters at any time. Please see our Privacy Policy. If you would like to manage which Texas Monthly Editorial newsletters you are receiving, click Preferences, below. To unsubscribe from our Editorial newsletters, click Unsubscribe. [Like]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](