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Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez served four terms as the top law enforcement officer for Val Verde County, Texas, a vast rural area that shares a 110-mile border with Mexico. Martinez said she dreamed of taking the job before her father died at age 51. Martinez said her father, a staunch Democrat, raised her and her nine siblings to serve the community.
Martinez describes himself as “Catholic and anti-pro-life and anti-gun control.” He also actively participates in his father’s parties. His connections in Valverde County have repeatedly propelled him to the presidency, thanks to support from both Democrats and Republicans. But even though border security is not the responsibility of local sheriffs, a victory this year is less certain because some in Val Verde County don’t think Martinez is being tough enough on immigrants. isn’t it.
This short documentary follows Joe Frank and his brothers David and Leo Martinez as they grapple with immigration tensions in Del Rio, about three hours west of San Antonio. Martinez’s candidacy reflects how new patterns of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border coincide with, if not precipitate, changing attitudes among voters there. You can get a glimpse of it. Some communities once considered Democratic strongholds are starting to turn red, a trend reinforced by Republican efforts to appeal to Latino voters.
These efforts are changing politics in Val Verde County. A political action committee called Project RedTX endorsed a candidate named Rogelio “Roger” Hernandez to run against Mr. Martinez. Since 2018, the PAC has recruited and financially supported Republican candidates in local elections in predominantly Latino border counties. This year, it supported 50 local candidates, including three from Valverde County. Hernandez’s billboards with the slogan “Bringing order to the border” appeared across the city.
How will Del Rio shape up as the border town becomes the backdrop to the national immigration debate? Find out more about this story in this urgent short film from ProPublica in partnership with The Texas Tribune. Read on to learn more.
correction
November 2, 2024: This article originally incorrectly stated that Del Rio was from San Antonio. It’s west, not south.
Lisa Riordan Sevilla, Mauricio Rodríguez Pons, Liz Mohon, and Katie Campbell participated in the production.
Updated November 12, 2024: Joe Frank Martinez was re-elected as Val Verde County Sheriff on November 5th. His support likely included crossover Republican voters, as the county leans strongly toward Donald Trump.
