“Del Rio, Texas” profiles Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez and his two brothers to capture how immigration — and its backlash — are remaking life along the Texas-Mexico border. Martinez had served four terms as the top lawman in Val Verde County, where taciturn men in two-ton men trucks and cowboy hats bob their heads to Ranchero music. This nuanced, cinematic video follows him as he launches his bid for a fifth, following him to the eve of the continuous 2024 election.
That sheriff’s badge is something Martinez’s father, a staunch Democrat, dreamed of having before he died at the age of 51. The sheriff describes himself as “Catholic and pro-life and pro-gun,” representative of many Democrats in these majority-Latino border communities. He’s also committed to his father’s party. His relationships in Val Verde County with both Democrats and Republicans have repeatedly propelled him into office. But this year, Martinez’s victory was less certain because some in Val Verde County didn’t think he was tough enough on immigration — even though securing the border is not a local sheriff’s responsibility.
If Sheriff Martinez’s race encapsulates a political moment, his family offers a prism to understand the border’s shifting political landscape: his brother David, the local county attorney, is more liberal Democrat who believes in due process and the U.S. as a haven for those fleeing persecution; his brother Leo, a factory owner, is disenchanted with his family’s party and concerned by economics who has drifted right.
Both insiders and outsiders are vying for the vote of people across Val Verde County. While the Biden administration avoided talking about the border situation like a crisis, conservative politicians saw an opportunity. Critics like Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott amplified the message that things at the border were out of control, bussed migrants to cities like New York and made frequent visits to the border, even convening a meeting of law enforcement officials in Val Verde County. The perception of disorder helped bring more than $13 million in border security grants, funding that this area now depends on.
That message was bolstered by a political action committee called Project Red TX. Since 2018 the PAC has been recruiting and financially supporting Republican candidates in local races across Latino border counties. The group backed about 50 local candidates this cycle, including a candidate for Val Verde County Sheriff, whose signs about “bringing order to the border” appeared across town.
Employing beautiful cinematography, smart editing and stylish animated graphics, “Del Rio, Texas” tells a nuanced story of a town that found itself at the center of the national conversation on the eve of a major change. Days after publication, Trump nearly swept Texas’ border counties. Sheriff Martinez held on, showing the contradictions and reshuffling unfolding nationwide. The video’s thoughtful storytelling has allowed it to endure well past election day, and it continues to draw viewers, making it a worthy contender for an Online Journalism Award.
This documentary takes a powerful and deeply personal look at the local impact of a challenging national issue. The audience is taken on a journey to a small Texas town, struggling with the political dynamics around immigration. The video brings light, not heat to an already overheated topic. Beautiful visuals and compelling interviews are woven together to present a compelling and engaging story.
