Kinney County leaders are using taxpayer money to spread fear, and that’s just wrong.
The Kinney County judge issued a “declaration of disaster” in which he claimed the influx of “illegal aliens invading Kinney County … has resulted in residents of Kinney County being assaulted, threatened with violence and robbed … ”
Shortly after this I called my 90-year-old aunt, with whom I visit every week. It was more than three weeks before she called me back.
I didn’t push her on why she delayed returning my call because I didn’t want her to start to cry. I knew why. She is absolutely terrorized by the notion of illegals marching as an army across our hills. And for a government leader to claim these people are committing violence against residents was a last straw.
So I did some independent research. I asked a Border Patrol agent if any illegals had assaulted or robbed anyone, and he said no. Quite assuredly, in fact.
Then I called the Kinney County Sheriffs Department. The first two people I talked to said they didn’t know what I was talking about. The third one said she hadn’t read the declaration but knew what I was referring to.
She also said that all the criminal reports from the county are published in the paper.
I said I read the paper every week and haven’t seen any reports of illegals assaulting or robbing people. I asked for copies of these reports and to have the sheriff call me.
Three days went by and no response from the sheriff. So I wrote a Freedom of Information Act request, asking again for copies of the reports. I turned it in personally, along with another message for the sheriff to call me.
Nothing. I went back in a week later. No reports, no response. I left another message for the sheriff to call. As of this writing, nothing.
I could push the issue but it’s pointless. The sheriff’s silence speaks volumes.
There are no reports of illegals assaulting or robbing people here.
There has been property damage, but that’s a far, far cry from violence against people. Ask the sheriff if you can get hold of him. He knows.
Meanwhile, my aunt remains terrified for me. When I found my property here in 2018, she broke into tears and said, “I can’t believe you’re moving to the BOR-der!”
Her news source is Fox, which was breathlessly talking about armies of murderous illegals marching across the border.
This year, thanks to my very own county judge, she couldn’t even talk to me.
And in an interview with my very own sheriff, a Fox newscaster demanded, “What the hell is going on down there?”
What an irresponsible way to start an interview. Do you think Walter Cronkite would have ever opened an interview with those words? No. Because he was a professional. This Fox guy is an entertainer.
I would assure my aunt that I’m armed and prepared to shoot, lethally if necessary, but it wouldn’t help her. I could say I have multiple camera systems surveilling my property, but that wouldn’t help her either. The government and the media are telling her she should be afraid.
And why fearmonger about those thousands of dirty illegals carrying COVID? The declaration trumpeted that, too. “Imminent threat of disaster from an elevated risk of exposure … ” Well. I went into the courthouse last week and saw not a single person wearing a mask. Not in the county judge’s office, not the county clerk, not the district clerk, nobody in the courthouse was wearing a mask.
So. Kinney County residents are supposed to be petrified while Kinney County leaders and their employees just go about their day. No worries. I’m sure everyone has had their shots.
The situation is bad enough without our leaders making things up.
At least the Val Verde County sheriff doesn’t fearmonger. In an interview with Del Rio’s 830 Times, he said, “We haven’t had any incidents of immigrants interacting negatively with members of the community, even along the river.”
More likely, an encounter would be like my neighbor’s in March, when he came upon an illegal on his ranch.
When he pulled his gun, the illegal threw his hands over his head and started crying and praying. He laid on the ground, still crying and praying. He stank, my neighbor said.
Recently, a neighbor said illegals camped on his property, leaving trash and burning up some lumber. They also broke a latch on an electrical box and pulled a chain from a ceiling fan.
When I told him the sheriff wanted to hear about any damage caused by illegals, he instantly talked about claiming more damage than had actually occurred.
I hope he’s honest and doesn’t do it.
Perception can easily overshadow reality. Just take everything everyone says with a huge grain of salt. Consider the source. What benefit does someone get by fooling you?
Politicians get votes. Governments justify their budgets. Broadcasters increase their ratings. And citizens pad their damage claims.
Everybody benefits. Except the terrorized 90-year-old woman. What does she get?
Carolea Hassard
Brackettville
