A resolution passed by Caldwell County commissioners at the end of 2022 – proclaiming that immigration places local residents “under an imminent threat of disaster to their health, life, and property” – illuminates a clear distinction between the political views of incumbents B.J. Westmoreland and Ed Theriot and those of the two challengers who hope to unseat them in November.

The resolution – “Declaring Local State of Disaster” – recites false racist tropes that immigrants commit crimes and spread disease.

A few dozen counties – the vast majority, unlike Caldwell, near the state’s southern border – have passed similar disaster declarations at the encouragement of Gov. Greg Abbott. 

In June, Abbott renewed a proclamation citing “the surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas—Mexico border” to justify an ongoing declaration of disaster in Caldwell and 38 other Texas counties.

False, Racist Claims

The Commissioners’ local version of the resolution – which Westmoreland motioned to approve and Theriot seconded – states that immigration puts “residents of Caldwell County at greater risk of harm to their person and property” and “at a substantial increased risk of exposure to new and novel strains of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.”

The first allegation, that immigrants commit crimes disproportionate to native-born U.S. citizens, is patently untrue. 

The conservative Cato Institute, examining data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, found that “the illegal-immigrant criminal-conviction rate was 45 percent below that of native-born Americans in Texas.” In other words, Texas citizens are nearly twice as likely to commit crimes compared to undocumented residents.

The second allegation, that immigrants in particular spread contagious diseases, is similarly untrue – part of a long, xenophobic tradition in the United States of scapegoating immigrants, especially in times of pandemic.

No nation on the planet was harder hit by COVID than the United States – not due to immigration, but on account of the prevalent flouting of safety protocols and widespread skepticism of the value of life-saving immunizations.

Asked for comment on the false and racist assertions in the resolution he motioned to approve, Commissioner Ed Theriot ducked the opportunity to respond, instead telling the Examiner, “it’s a basic disaster declaration that a number of south and south central Texas counties filed after the Governor issued a preceeding [sic] nearly identical order.”

Emails to Commissioner Westmoreland went unanswered, and a call to his phone number provided on the county website indicated his voice mailbox was full and could not receive messages.

“Where’s the Disaster”?

Taylor Burge (who, in full transparency, co-owns Good Things Grocery and Chaparral Coffee where the Examiner is distributed) is challenging Westmoreland for the Precinct 1 position.

She told the Examiner, “Commissioner Westmoreland motioned for this vote. I would have liked to have seen and heard his comments on why he felt like this was in our best interests, and not in the interest of playing a political game and aligning himself with the Governor. There was no comment, no discussion. Just a quick wave of the hand and all of a sudden we are in a state of emergency.”

Burge vowed that absent a compelling data-rooted explanation for the declaration, “I would absolutely sponsor an item to terminate this order.”

“We are in no ongoing threat – over 2 years after this state of disaster was declared. Where’s the disaster? That wording should absolutely be reserved for true disasters,” she said.

Mickey Zapata, a longtime firefighter and president of the Prairie Lea ISD school board who is running for Precinct 3, shares many of Burge’s concerns.

“I may not be an expert on the border, but I am an expert on public safety. I do not think this ‘disaster resolution’ made us any safer. I call on Commissioner Theriot to terminate the order,” Zapata told the Examiner.

Asked if it was appropriate to repeal the declaration, Theriot said, “There are no plans to revisit this in Commissioners Court at this time.”

Zapata believes the overwhelming majority of immigrants who come to Caldwell County do so “to make a better life for themselves and their families.”

“We live over a three-hour drive away from the border here in Caldwell County, and most counties surrounding us did not declare this emergency. This fear-driven resolution was designed to divide people up, and I am disappointed that Ed Theriot supported it with his vote,” Zapata said.

For his part, Theriot told the Examiner, “Orders such as these make counties eligible for additional funding and extra resources that can be used when they are made available. Being eligable [sic] to apply for these grants and other forms of funding is a wise move for a county that wishes to provide public safety and other services to its residents.”

However, the county told the Examiner, in response to our public-information request seeking a copy of all documents that indicate any state funding received as a result of Commissioners’ passage of the disaster declaration, that there was “no responsive material in relation to your request.”

Theriot confirmed that the disaster declaration, nearly two years later, has not yet produced any money for the county.

Zapata conveys disappointment in the resolution supported by Theriot and other commissioners.

“It is one thing to have concern for public health, but this resolution language drifts over into well-worn ‘diseased migrant’ trope territory. We can do better than this, Caldwell County,” he said.

Burge shares the sentiment: “I understand that the county officials were likely facing pressure from outside influences. Perhaps they caved to the pressure. That’s understandable – they are humans like us all. But true leadership is recognizing when one has been led to believe and act upon false information … and make it right.”

Commissioners may soon have that opportunity – a number of individuals are reportedly planning to show up to Caldwell County Commissioner Court on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 8:30 a.m. to demand termination of the disaster order.

BY JORDAN BUCKLEY