Good morning, North Texas,

Today would have been civil rights activist Rosa Parks’ 113th birthday. (Fun fact, I had lunch with Ms. Parks on the campus of The University of North Texas as a child. And no, I can’t find the photo to prove it. 😩)

Even though Parks was an activist long before refusing to go to the back of the bus, I think the bus story sticks with so many because it’s extremely relatable to just wake up one day and be done with a situation or scenario. There are a lot of different things to be sick and tired about today, but for Parks, she was tired of giving in to unfair rules—racist ones. And by her refusing to go along to get along, she started an entire movement.

We’re seeing a lot of Rosa Parks lately, people tired of unfair systems who decide today is the day they’re going to do something about it. I think it’s admirable and really brave.

Do you know someone in your community who’s risked it all to make a change? I’d love to know more about your local heroes and will continue to share incredible stories I find.

Federal agents arrest a protestor outside an ICE facility after he allegedly attempted to block a vehicle during a protest against ICE in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 9, 2026. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

By Joi Louviere

Masked federal immigration officers have become a visible presence in many communities across the country, and Texas is no exception. With no sign of immigration raids slowing down, Texans need to know their rights and how to safely interact with federal officers, whether they’re undocumented, US citizens, or somewhere in between.

As recent events have shown, those interactions can be a matter of life or death. According to a new report from The Guardian, eight people, including three in Texas, have died while engaging with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

COURIER DFW spoke with Kristin Etter, the director of policy and legal services at the Texas Immigration Law Council, for her expert legal knowledge to better understand what’s happening with immigration enforcement and how the public should be interacting with these federal agents.

⚠️ Family in limbo: A McKinney teacher is speaking out after ICE detained her husband during a routine check-in, even as he was seeking legal status after fleeing political persecution in Venezuela. (NBC 5)

🗳️ Polling place confusion: With four weeks until the primary, Dallas County voters still don’t know where to vote on Election Day as party-specific polling locations remain unfinalized. Officials are urging people to vote early at any countywide site to avoid last-minute confusion. (KERA)

🎡 Free fair access: Dallas ISD teens will get free entry to the State Fair of Texas this fall through a partnership with Dallas Parks and Recreation’s teen all-access program. (CBS News)

🚔 New crime initiative: Law enforcement agencies say Project Safe Neighborhood is expanding to Northwest Dallas to target violent crime tied to drugs, firearms, and human trafficking, though officials have not shared details on timing or specific targets. (FOX 4)

📣 Thunderstruck on tour: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders announced a nine-show live tour across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, featuring fan-favorite routines, behind-the-scenes stories, and live audition moments. (WFAA)

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Joi Louviere. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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