Government

African American Congressman From Border Opposes Trumps Wall – Plays Key Role In Searching For Solutions

THE TENNESSEE TRIBUNE — Drawing upon his years undercover and his work in the private sector, Mr. Hurd has a starkly different vision for the Southwestern border.

Published

7 years ago

January 23, 2019

TN Tribune Staff Writer

By Howard M. Romaine

The sole Republican Congressman to represent a U.S. House District along the 2,000 mile border with Mexico, Will Hurd of Texas, “has emerged as perhaps the most persistent critic in his Party of President Trump’s Wall” reports The New York Times in its Thursday, January 17th edition. Hurd is also the only black Republican in the current House Chamber.

Its profile of Hurd notes that he is a “former undercover C.I.A. officer who won re-election on Texas’ 23rd District, ‘barely.’ The proposed Wall covers nine Congressional District in four states, and Hurd’s District is the largest of the nine.

Drawing upon his years undercover and his work in the private sector, Mr. Hurd has a starkly different vision for the Southwestern border: fiber optic cables, sensors, radar, drones, increased staffing – but not the concrete or steel barrier that Trump has demanded before he will reopen the government.

Hurd joined Democrats eight times this month to vote to reopen the government, without Wall funding.’

Says Hurd, “I have a unique perspective because I have so much border, because I have an entire career dealing with these issues. That is more important than any kind of political calculation,.”

Hurd advocates a ‘smart wall,’ a list of technologies and upgrades that would protect more than 800 miles of the Southwestern Border. He would dispense with the concrete wall or steel slats that Trump has advocated.

“Let’s make sure we’re using the right tool in the right place, Mr. Hurd said.”We should be thinking about all those different technologies and how they should be used, and when I describe this, nobody disagrees.”

Quiet, steady advocate for solutions

According to the Times’ writer, Emily Cochrane, “Hurd is not inclined to broadcast his perspective or obsessively rope in votes for his cause. He has not sought opportunities to directly lobby the President to endorse the technological barriers he has envisioned, although he notes that “key players’ are aware of his position.”

“Instead, he is content to remain on the periphery of the House Republican Conference, educating his colleagues, extending invitations to visit the border and voting the way he believes the majority of his constituents want him to.”

This has resonance in the large population of cybersecurity professionals in his District – including parts of San Antonio. The District has flipped five times between the two parties since the early 1990’s”

Hurd’s ability to navigate the electoral perils of South Texas and Capitol Hill has surprised his party allies and his opponents across the aisle. His margin of victory in November was slim. But, “Conservatives acknowledge that mr. Hurd is an asset to their conference; he has secured a temperamental electorate for now, and his intelligence, experience and status as the lone black Republican in the House Chamber make him invaluable.”

Named a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee, Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, and House Minority Leader, hailed him as “one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial members in Congress.”

Constantly in touch with other border Congressmen, all Democrats, Hurd collaborated last year on legislation to secure a path for citizenship for ‘Dreamers.’ Representative Pete Aguilar of California and Hurd “now text each other so frequently that Mr. Aguilar jokes that his wife is a little jealous of their friendship”

Says Aguilar, “It’s not lost on anyone on our side of the aisle,” about how mr. Hurd has crossed party lines to support bipartisan ideas on immigration and rebuff the president’s demands for a wall at the border.”

This article originally appeared in The Tennessee Tribune.

TN Tribune Staff Writer

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Lori Wilson — Advocate for Equity, the Environment, and More

Her rise has also included several historic firsts: she is the only Black woman ever appointed to lead the influential Assembly Transportation Committee, and the first freshman legislator elected Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. She has also been a vocal advocate for vulnerable communities, becoming the first California legislator to publicly discuss being the parent of a transgender child — an act of visibility that has helped advanced representation at a time when political tensions related to social issues and culture have intensified.

Published

4 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). File photo.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) joined the California Legislature in 2022 after making history as Solano County’s first Black female mayor, bringing with her a track record of fiscal discipline, community investment, and inclusive leadership.

She represents the state’s 11th Assembly District, which spans Solano County and portions of Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties.

California Black Media spoke with Wilson about her successes and disappointments this year and her outlook for 2026.

What stands out as your most important achievement this year?

Getting SB 237 passed in the Assembly. I had the opportunity to co-lead a diverse workgroup of colleagues, spanning a wide range of ideological perspectives on environmental issues.

How did your leadership contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians this year?

The Black Caucus concentrated on the Road to Repair package and prioritized passing a crucial bill that remained incomplete during my time as chair, which establishes a process for identifying descendants of enslaved people for benefit eligibility.

What frustrated you the most this year?

The lack of progress made on getting Prop 4 funds allocated to socially disadvantaged farmers. This delay has real consequences. These farmers have been waiting for essential support that was promised. Watching the process stall, despite the clear need and clear intent of the voters, has been deeply frustrating and reinforces how much work remains to make our systems more responsive and equitable.

What inspired you the most this year?

The resilience of Californians persists despite the unprecedented attacks from the federal government. Watching people stay engaged, hopeful, and determined reminded me why this work matters and why we must continue to protect the rights of every community in our state.

What is one lesson you learned this year that will inform your decision-making next year?

As a legislator, I have the authority to demand answers to my questions — and accept nothing less. That clarity has strengthened my approach to oversight and accountability.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians are facing currently?

Affordability and access to quality educational opportunities.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

Advance my legislative agenda despite a complex budget environment. The needs across our communities are real, and even in a tight fiscal year, I’m committed to moving forward policies that strengthen safety, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life for the people I represent.

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Champion of Reparations, Housing and Workers’ Rights

In 2025, McKinnor pushed forward legislation on renters’ protections, re-entry programs, reparations legislation, and efforts to support Inglewood Unified School District. She spoke with California Black Media about the past year and her work. Here are her responses.

Published

4 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). File photo.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) represents

California’s 61st Assembly District.

As a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC),

McKinnor was elected in 2022. She chairs the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation and leads the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee. McKinnor also served as a civic engagement director, managed political campaigns, and worked as chief of staff for former Assemblymembers Steven Bradford and Autumn Burke.

Looking back on 2025, what do you see as your biggest win?

Assembly Bill (AB) 628. If rent is $3,000, people should at least have a stove and a refrigerator. It’s ridiculous that people were renting without basic appliances.

I’m also proud that I was able to secure $8.4 million in the state budget for people coming home from incarceration. That includes the Homecoming Project, the menopause program for incarcerated women, and the Justice Leaders Program.

How did your leadership help make life better for Black Californians this year?

After the Eaton Fire, I pushed to get the same kind of support for affected areas that wealthier regions get after disasters.

I also did a lot of work building political power— establishing the Black Legacy PAC and California for All of Us PAC so we could support Black candidates and educate voters. We also called voters to make sure they understood Prop 50.

People need to understand this: there are only 12 Black legislators in the Capitol. Folks act like we can just walk in and pass reparations, but that’s not how it works.

What frustrated you most this year?

The governor did not have the political will to sign these bills: AB 57 and AB 62. They both passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly and the Senate. We did the work. The only person who didn’t have the political will to sign them was the governor.

The public needs to ask the governor why he didn’t sign the bills. We can’t keep letting people off the hook. He has to answer.

I also introduced AB 51 — the bill to eliminate interest payments on Inglewood Unified School District’s long-standing state loan — held in the Appropriations Committee. That was frustrating,

What inspired you most in 2025?

The civil rights trip to Alabama was life changing. We visited the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. We took members of the Black, Latino, Jewish, and API caucuses with us. It changed all of us.

People aren’t always against us — they just don’t know our history.

What’s one lesson from 2025 that will shape how you approach decisions next year?

The legislative trip to Norway taught me that collaboration matters. Government, labor, and industry sit down together there. They don’t make villains. Everybody doesn’t get everything they want, but they solve problems.

What’s the biggest challenge facing Black Californians in one word?

Inequity. It shows up in housing, wealth, stress – all these things.

What’s the number one goal you want to accomplish in 2026?

Bringing back AB 57 and AB 62, and securing money for the Inglewood Unified loan interest forgiveness.