Andrew Schneider | Houston Public Media

The proposal would make it harder for several categories of immigrants -- notably those in the U.S. on humanitarian parole as well as DACA recipients -- to obtain or renew legal work authorization.

Houston immigration attorneys say the policy memo, issued by U.S. Customs and Immigration Services late last week, has the potential to jam up immigration courts as people trying to remain in the U.S. legally seek to avoid deportation.

Paxton, the Trump-endorsed Texas attorney general, will face Austin state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Senate, in November's general election.

The Republican president had repeatedly teased his intention to endorse a candidate in the race, starting soon after Ken Paxton and John Cornyn emerged as the remaining contenders from the first round of primary voting in March.

The Republican finalists in the race to succeed outgoing Attorney General Ken Paxton are Galveston state Sen. Mayes Middleton and Central Texas Congressman Chip Roy. The remaining Democratic contenders are former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski and Dallas state Sen. Nathan Johnson.

The latest survey from the UH Hobby School shows state Attorney General Ken Paxton supported by 48% of likely voters in the GOP primary runoff compared to 45% for Sen. John Cornyn, with a margin of error of less than 3%.

Tice, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was kidnapped at a checkpoint west of Damascus in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian Civil War.

The movement, which stresses an overt role for a specific evangelical strain of Christianity in government, has been gaining strength nationwide in no small part because of Texas’ influence.

Patrick spoke as chair of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, which is planning to make federal policy recommendations in May.

Half of all Texas restaurant operators failed to earn a profit last year, according to data tracked by the National Restaurant Association.