Jenny Beth visits Sheriff Benny Martinez of Brooks County, Texas. Brooks County is not directly on the border with Mexico, but it experiences many of the same problems that border counties face, including heavy traffic from illegal aliens on private lands.
Jenny Beth visits Sheriff Benny Martinez of Brooks County, Texas. Brooks County is not directly on the border with Mexico, but it experiences many of the same problems that border counties face, including heavy traffic from illegal aliens on private lands.
Jenny Beth Martin (00:00):
How many dead bodies are you finding in your, your county?
Benny Martinez (00:03):
Uh, there's some years that we hit 120 some years, we hit a a hundred. So it varies, right? Uh, but on the average, it's about 60 to 65.
Narrator (00:13):
Keeping our republic is on the line, and it requires Patriots with great passion, dedication, and eternal vigilance to preserve our freedoms. Jenny Beth Martin is the co-founder of Tea Party Patriots. She's an author, a filmmaker, and one of time magazine's most influential people in the world. But the title she is most proud of is Mom to Her Boy, girl Twins. She has been at the forefront fighting to protect America's core principles for more than a decade. Welcome to the Jenny Beth Show.
Jenny Beth Martin (00:45):
In this episode, we continue our journey along the southern border with Sheriff Benny Martinez of Brooks County, Texas. Now, Brooks County is not directly on the border with Mexico, but it still faces the same problems that border counties face. You may remember our 2014 documentary Border States of America. The reason we chose that title is because even states that are not directly on the border have been forced to deal with the illegal immigration problem making every state a border state in Brooks County, Texas. These problems are happening literally in people's backyards fitting. Martinez, thank you so much for opening up your office and your conference room and having us come in to record our podcast with you. So you are the sheriff of Brooks County, and how long have you been sheriff?
Benny Martinez (01:34):
I'm guessing I'm going to come into my third term now.
Jenny Beth Martin (01:38):
Your third term? Mm-hmm.
Benny Martinez (01:40):
Uh, March of 2024.
Jenny Beth Martin (01:44):
Okay. So same as presidential? Yes.
Benny Martinez (01:46):
Years?
Jenny Beth Martin (01:47):
Correct. Okay. Um, and your county is not right on the border, correct? That's
Benny Martinez (01:53):
Correct.
Jenny Beth Martin (01:53):
You're about how far north of the border?
Benny Martinez (01:55):
About 70 miles north of the border,
Jenny Beth Martin (01:57):
And yet it 70 miles north of the border. You still encounter issues with illegal immigration and the flow of migrants into our country?
Benny Martinez (02:08):
That's correct. What
Jenny Beth Martin (02:09):
Kind of, what kind of issues do you experience?
Benny Martinez (02:12):
Well, uh, like currently as of as we're speaking here, we we're having run run throughs. And that means they're, they're not walking at this point. They're not walking, uh, they're driving 'em through private ranches and, uh, they're actually just cutting the locks or cutting the fences and driving through. And sometimes they'll, they'll drive through almost 50, 50, 60 miles. So it, it depends on what direction and who's actually, uh, the, the core of the people that's doing it depends on what they have, how the quick they want to exit, uh, the ranch lands. So that's what's occurring now.
Jenny Beth Martin (02:45):
And when they're driving through ranch land like that, are they driving on roads or are they just driving, like in the middle of the property?
Benny Martinez (02:53):
Uh, it, it varies. Sometimes they're, they're driving on just property itself or they're driving on, on gravel roads that are out there. You know, back in the day we had a lot of, uh, drilling going on, and so you still have those old roads out there.
Jenny Beth Martin (03:06):
And what kind of impact does that have for the, the ranchers?
Benny Martinez (03:09):
Well, the fact is, is that most of these ranchers have cattle on the property. So when they cut those fences, not so much the, the interior fences, but when they cut the fences off the major highway, which is 2 81, that's when it becomes a problem. You, you'll have a lot of livestock out on the highway, and that could be deadly for those, uh, traveling through Brooks County on the way up to way up north.
Jenny Beth Martin (03:31):
And it, it is harm harmful economically for the ranchers as well,
Benny Martinez (03:36):
Because, well, there's always a cost to that and repairing the gates, repairing the fences. Uh, just three, two days ago we had a fence that at a cost of $70,000 that they busted through. Uh, so, and then another one for 20,000. So, and the cost just keeps going up.
Jenny Beth Martin (03:54):
And then in this county, I know that you previously had two mobile morgues, and you were telling me a few minutes ago that you now, instead of getting a third mobile morgue, you, you have a permanent morgue here.
Benny Martinez (04:08):
The county does have a permanent morgue here. Yes.
Jenny Beth Martin (04:11):
Why was that necessary?
Benny Martinez (04:13):
It just had it, it had to be, it just the fact that the, the bodies were picking up the bodies we were curbing out on in the, in the ranchland. So we, we had to get another one. And then what happened was is that Alah County, the county, two and a half hours north of here, northwest of here, they were having the same type of crisis. So they bring their bodies into our morgue and just to help 'em on the cost, it, it's, there's always a cost with that.
Jenny Beth Martin (04:38):
So elaborate on, on that a little bit mm-hmm.
Benny Martinez (04:49):
Well, they should actually, immigrants that are walking through the brush lands and they quite don't make it. Either they get injured, they get hurt, they get left behind, et cetera. So, um, they just perish out on, on the ranchlands. Uh, this is what we, we come across. So in recovering those bodies, of course we have to do the d n A process, and this is where the morgue was needed, so we can store 'em, uh, and get them identified. You know, we work real closely with the, uh, United States Border Patrol, the, the Migrant Missing program. And, uh, they'll come in there with our group, their group and our, our officers, and they'll fingerprint, uh, those hands that can be fingerprinted at times. They, they just, there's nothing to fingerprint. So we rely on iden, uh, we rely on if they still have skin on them, on the tattoos, uh, so something that's solid, something that we can filter back to the respective consulates. And actually all the consulates get the same picture because we really don't know where they're from. So they're, they're the ones that will decipher as to what country they might be from.
Jenny Beth Martin (05:54):
Wow. Um, and how many people are, how many dead bodies are you finding in your, your county a a month, a year?
Benny Martinez (06:04):
Well, we, we've been on the average since 2009. We're, we're running around 60, 65 a year on the average since 2009. Uh, there's some years that we hit 120 some years, we had a a hundred. So it varies 60, so it varies, right. Uh, but on the average it's about 60 to 65.
Jenny Beth Martin (06:25):
And, um, these are bodies that are found on, on the ranch land. That means it's, it's people's pr it's like fi maybe not quite a backyard, but if you had a farm, it's on your farmland. Right. This is where many, it's not like you're, maybe you are, it's not just on the side of the road or in public spaces.
Benny Martinez (06:46):
No, these are private ranch lands. And these are, I, I do call 'em backyards since some of 'em have 50,000 acre backyards. Okay. Okay. So that's what I do call 'em. Uh, they're pastors out there, you know, they got livestock on 'em and, uh, they have game, uh, on wildlife, et cetera. So yes, they, this is where they, they come to rest. That's their last moment. The last breath is taken in private ranch lands here.
Jenny Beth Martin (07:11):
Um, it, I can't even imagine what that would be like for the, the homeowner and the rancher to find that on their property. And I would imagine if you have an average of 60 a year, there are some ranchers who are, this is happening more than once a year for them.
Benny Martinez (07:27):
Well, absolutely. And you know, it, it's not a, something you get used to neither, because every, every single body is different, uh, in terms of sometimes I, what I refer to as the full body, everything's still intact. Eyeballs, ears, fingers, limbs, all that. Some of 'em are missing that because the, the, the feral hog or the animals, while animals start picking on it and eating on it. And, and so parts disappear, right? So it, it varies on, on what we, uh, go out and collect and recover.
Jenny Beth Martin (08:03):
What are things that you think would make this situation better? And it, was it better under the previous administration? Did things get better under President Trump? Um, than they had been under president, um, Biden and President Obama, and we could go back to, to George W. Bush as well, but you were, I I don't know if you were in office in at
Benny Martinez (08:28):
That point. I, I, I was not. But it, it is, it was better on the previous administration simply because I could see the decrease. Right. But now that when this new administration commander policy started changing the, so that pretty much put out a message out there that you can go ahead and come on in, it kind of opened it up a little bit more. And, and this were their thoughts, and, uh, they were, they were just on it or taking advantage of that. And, and, and that's what happens. So the policies really have hurt, uh, this, this particular issue. Uh, so it, it is very difficult to deal with it when policies are not there and there's no consequences behind those policies.
Jenny Beth Martin (09:12):
And what do you think would make the situation better?
Benny Martinez (09:16):
Just secure the water period. Just secure it.
Jenny Beth Martin (09:19):
How would you go about doing that?
Benny Martinez (09:21):
Well, you just shut it down completely. And then, uh, everyone will, we're not saying don't come, well, well, I'm saying you secure it completely anything in between the port of entries and then, uh, you come as you should and with proper, proper documents and, and everything else, just like we would if we were to travel abroad. So things like that, of that nature, it would definitely help us help the whole US for that matter.
Jenny Beth Martin (09:44):
Right. And if they were going through an airport, they would have to have proper documentation, right? Like if you're going through customs and you flew somehow into the country before you even leave the other country, you've gotta have your documentation to leave the country. And then to get into the United States, you have to have documentation to get into the United States. But on the border, we're, we're not requiring the same standards that we require in the airports.
Benny Martinez (10:12):
Not at all. You pretty much, they're just coming just a random, and, and some of 'em are getting their little one app or whatever is it that they call it, and they're release into the, into the US pending a, a callback for a hearing. And that might take 36, 48 months. It all depends on, on the process.
Jenny Beth Martin (10:33):
When you are encountering people here in your county right now, in 2023, what countries are they from?
Benny Martinez (10:41):
It varies. I mean, you pretty much name it that they're here, of course, the, the Triangle County, uh, countries, and then various other countries. So it, it just depends, uh, how or what we meet out there in the brush and how they're coming across.
Jenny Beth Martin (10:57):
So are you meeting people from, from China, from Iran, from I think that another sheriff told me considered special interest countries.
Benny Martinez (11:07):
We, we, we have those, yes, we have. And, uh, again, it, it, it all varies as to how, if we make contact with 'em or not. Okay. If we can get our hands on 'em, yes. If, if Border Patrol usually handles those, if they're, uh, in those type of, from those type of countries. So yes. But they are coming through.
Jenny Beth Martin (11:25):
Okay. And then, um, you, you're doing this interview and you care about border security, and yet you are not a, a Republican. Are you, are you a Democrat or are you a Republican? I'm a
Benny Martinez (11:43):
Democrat.
Jenny Beth Martin (11:43):
And so for you, this is a non-partisan issue, right? This is just, it is an issue that you care about because you see the consequences of an insecure border every day?
Benny Martinez (11:54):
Absolutely. You know, there's three issues that I, that I, I deal with 70 miles north of the border. It is the national security issue, a public health issue, and a humanitarian issue. Those are the issues I deal with all three of 'em, all three components.
Jenny Beth Martin (12:09):
And, um, what do you think about other, other places across the country? Do you think that sanctuary cities and states are a magnet to pull people across the southern border? And then, um, when we met earlier today, there were, you had a delegation here from Iowa, from the state legislature in Iowa, and they recently passed laws, um, to, I, I don't know exactly what the law was, but they have passed some laws to, to crack down on, on human trafficking. Do you think that those kind of laws would help deter some of what we're seeing?
Benny Martinez (12:51):
Well, just like our governor, uh, governor Abbott, he, he imposes some laws that I think would just pretty much will help us to deter, right? Because you also have to have consequences behind those. You have to prosecute those type of cases. So it depends on the smuggler, should I should say, and how they want to get 'em across how they want to get 'em across. And, uh, and they're willing to take that, that risk. Okay. So yes, the, the laws are there so we can enforce the laws. It is just like a tool that we can utilize to better, you know, put a, uh, maybe put our hands around it, put our arms running it. So it is just one of those things that we have to deal with on a daily basis here. But it, it does help us, uh, on, on this issue of, uh, the trafficking and the smuggling and anything else that goes with it.
Jenny Beth Martin (13:44):
Um, okay. And then would, are there specific laws that you would like to see passed either in Congress or in in Texas that would help make your job better here?
Benny Martinez (14:01):
I think what we just currently went through, it, it, it's, there's strong bills that helps all law enforcement in Texas to, to stand behind and enforce it. Uh, of course we have to have the prosecution with it too. So that also would enhance it. It definitely will deter the issue. Uh, but then again, like I mentioned earlier, it, it depends on the will of, of those that are coming across, of those that are pushing them to come across the, the smuggler. So it, it is one of those challenges that we deal with.
Jenny Beth Martin (14:32):
Okay. And then let's, let's shift gears just a little bit. So you are a part of the, the Southwest Border Sheriff Association, or what, what is a, did it give the name right?
Benny Martinez (14:45):
No, you're right. We we're, we're part of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition. Okay. As well as the Southwest Border Sheriff's Coalition. Yes.
Jenny Beth Martin (14:51):
And what does that coalition do, and why is it important?
Benny Martinez (14:54):
It, it's important because we actually, we all deal with the same issues along the, the corridor, whether it's the Southwest corridor, which, you know, we run from Brownsville all the way up to El Paso, across to New Mexico, Arizona, up to San Diego, California, uh, in, uh, and, uh, so all those counties along, along that corridor just has the same issues, you know, the, the same concerns. And, and, uh, as a coalition, we, you know, we just sit down and we try to get with our representatives that, that, uh, we can reach out to and listen to us and tell us what we need in order to kind of, kind of meet the demand of, of, of the influx that comes in, right. Whether it's resources, whether it's new laws, what, whatever it, it, it, uh, whatever we can get our hands on to just utilize it as a tool to, to minimize the, the damage that's being created to minimize the pursuits, the deaths, et cetera.
Jenny Beth Martin (15:50):
And, um, have you been successful in getting legislation passed, um, as a coalition at all? I know that in Washington d c that hasn't happened because the, the law, the immigration law largely hasn't changed f at least not going through the proper legislative process for years in Washington. But at a state level, have you, you been influential as this coalition?
Benny Martinez (16:17):
Yes. In the state level, we have, of course, you know, just because the, the governor has pretty, pretty much have lend the good ear and, and, and listening to our concerns. And, and not only us though, the ranch, the landowners that are out there, they're getting hit hard every single day. So he understands it. He understands as well, as well as the Senate and, and our representatives, you know, it's, we do have some bipartisan law that, that came into place to help us combat this issue. Because not only do you have your traffic in, but you also have those that are mistreated once they get here and, and, and don't have the same comfort as everyone else. So it, it, there's a lot of little issues that, that, that apply here that we need to look at instead of just the fact that we're picking on people that shouldn't be coming across.
Jenny Beth Martin (17:05):
And, um, the, when they come across, at this point, they're the move through your county, and most of them are moving through on vehicles, so, correct. Or are, they're not as many who are moving through on foot
Benny Martinez (17:21):
Currently. They're moving on on within vehicles. Yes.
Jenny Beth Martin (17:24):
And then they leave your county, so they're pretty quickly getting onto the interstate system to, to go to other parts of the country, correct?
Benny Martinez (17:33):
That's correct.
Jenny Beth Martin (17:35):
What do you have interaction with other sheriffs around, around the country outside of the, the Border Sheriff Coalition and, um, what, what do they say as they see the problems and move out of the, the border, the southern border region and into the rest of the country?
Benny Martinez (17:52):
Well, being part of the, the National Sheriff's Association, uh, you know, you have sheriffs out of Idaho, sheriffs out of Oklahoma, sheriffs out of, uh, Maryland, uh, New York, uh, pretty much name the state. And they'll have the same issues we have here, but at a different level. 'cause they're already there. They're veted. A lot of it is, is just the, the infrastructure that's, that can't sustain it because of the amount of people coming in. But it's, is the issue there. Absolutely. And it all starts down here on the south end of us, 70 miles south of us. So it, it really impacts all of us, uh, Colorado, you know, so it, it just, I mean, kind of name the state, it, it does have the challenges,
Jenny Beth Martin (18:36):
Um, in, in, and one of the things that we keep trying to convey, and we've been doing this since we created the documentary back in 2014, going through and explaining the problem with the, the open border, is that every state really winds up being a border state. That's why we called it border states of America, because you face a problem right here, and you're in the, the front line of the problem. But once they're on the interstate system or get on airplanes, they move to other parts of the country and it has an impact on the rest of the country if they're moving through and getting asylum or being assigned a court date. An I think that the way that that is being handled, isn't it, it is outside the law. And if it is outside what the written law is, that's a problem. But the people who are turning themselves in, they, they are, um, not hardened criminals normally they're, but they have an impact on the schools. They have an impact on the hospitals. They have an impact on the infrastructure, as you mentioned. And then you've got the people who you, you deal with as are moving through your county. Those are people who are probably much more hardened criminals. And they're not, they're not moving through your county rapidly, uh, for I I'm sure they're up to no good.
Benny Martinez (20:04):
Well, it's, it's, we have come across a lot of different type of, uh, you know, we come across as, uh, thirteens as it filtered through back, back in, whether they're backpacking, uh, narcotics or they're, they're pushing a, a group of people. And you're right, you have a lot of, I guess you can mention, uh, females that are filtering through also, that they, they get violated as as they travel through. So the, the impact is a lot larger than just the infrastructure, as you mentioned. Uh, you know, around here, we don't have no type of, uh, hospital. We don't have a hospital period. So our quickest response here is traveling 30, 30, 40 minutes to the local hospital if there's the need. Okay. So we rely a lot on border patrol for, for assistance as well as the state police. So we, we kinda like, grow together in this.
(20:59):
And, and, and we filtered through it. And, and it's, and, and it happened. We just had a meeting this morning with all the stakeholders and talking about the run throughs and, and I know we know it's gonna happen. You know, we just try to kinda get some type of momentum to figure out how to really, not so much shut it down, 'cause you, you're never gonna shut, shut it down. But just kind of minimize the damage that they're doing, uh, because there is damage and, and there is a lot of issues that comes with it. The public health issue, not knowing what they're carrying with 'em as they're traveling through neither, uh, the national security issues who, and the wanted persons that are coming through. So a lot of this and those that I get left behind. Uh, so, you know, I, I came across a young lady, I would say about maybe thirty, thirty six months ago, she gave birth to her baby in the bucket of a backhoe. Okay? As soon as she gave birth, we were there. Uh, she wants to know which way is Houston. Uh, so I said, well, you're not going to Houston, you're going, you're going to the hospital with the ambulance. So, and I don't know what happened after that, but that's their mindset, just trying to get to Houston. And of course, from there, either they kept there or they're shipped out elsewhere. They continue the journey.
Jenny Beth Martin (22:13):
And when they continue the journey like that, are they, are they free at that point? Or are they, do they still have an obligation to ever help them across the border?
Benny Martinez (22:27):
Well, it all depends. If, if, to me there's still an obligation simply because we've gotten calls, uh, on family members saying that, well, someone is holding my son or my daughter because I want more money. Okay. So there's always an obligation. Uh, they just, it's just not a free pass in terms of, okay, pay me X amount of dollars and then you're free to go. No. There's something more behind that once they have control of you. So that's what they face too. That's one another challenge that they go through. And, uh, people need to understand that when they're seeing, uh, other young boys or young girls or or adults, they need to understand that there is other consequences within that group, within that organized crime that's that criminal that's bringing them through. There's always something behind that. It's just not, okay, you're done. You can go away now. Nope. They're gonna hold 'em until they get more monies.
Jenny Beth Martin (23:22):
And I, I think that one of the things that's so disturbing about that is that it seems to me this is, it, it winds up being inden. They become indentured servants here. They come here and they're working, and it's not working the land the way that maybe we learned about it when we were in elementary school or middle school, that, uh, but they're, they're working and they, they have to pay money back to, to whoever helped them get across the border and whoever helped them get across the border is likely a cartel.
Benny Martinez (23:53):
Well, and it seems like the normal, the normal person doesn't think of that they're, they're just thinking of the fact that well let 'em come through. No, there's a lot behind that. And this is why we need to secure the border and let them come through the way everyone should be coming through where they're just, they're treated as no more persons, like human beings and not stuff in the trunk of a car or on top of a, a reefer or inside the reefer or, or truck, tractor, whatever the case might be. Because it, it is, it is gonna be a bad scene for 'em.
Jenny Beth Martin (24:25):
Right. And it, I'm, I just become so horrified by what is happening to the, the people, people in America think it is humane and that they are being compassionate by allowing the borders to just be completely open. And they don't understand that because of the way that this is happening. First, it's outside the law. So I, I have a real problem when the law is not upheld. Either we are a country of laws or we're a country of men. And when it's men, that's the kind of country these people are escaping. They're escaping lawless, lawless countries, and they're turning America into what they're trying to escape from. But then the other thing is, I think that they just, there are many people who don't understand the impact and the implication, like what you're talking about, they owe, they owe the cartel. Mm-hmm.
Benny Martinez (25:45):
Know, I, I get, I get a little, I guess notes from, from local border patrol, and I think 18% are unaccompanied minors. 18%. Alright. So that's a lot, you know, for a parent or anyone to let their child come across by themselves. Uh, a lot of times that they're used as a shield or used as a, as a, as a cover to where, you know, they're responsible for the child or the sponsor is already in the United States waiting for, to arrived, whatever the case might be. But you just kind of let, you know, unoccupied minors come across like that. I, I, I don't, I don't really don't, can't see it neither. Uh, because I've, I've had children myself, and I wouldn't want to do that to them. So there, there's a lot in this that, that goes beyond sight, right? That's, that's kinda like hidden that no one talks about.
(26:38):
And, and that really need, we really need to wake up to this issue and, and, and treat it as such and get those criminals and, and, and, and arrest them and, and prosecute 'em and, and secure the border, right? Because, you know, it, it's not about having an open border, it's just a rule of law. It's, it's their, you know, I think every officer took an oath and that is to defend the constitution, uh, their respective, uh, of the United State and of the respective, uh, state. So that's what I follow. And, and, and it's pretty simple. There's nothing to it. It's just doing it. Uh, do your part and then everyone will do theirs. 'cause that's what the laws are there for.
Jenny Beth Martin (27:19):
And as a sheriff, that is what you're supposed your, your role as a sheriff is to help uphold the law. And that is the role of sheriffs and your deputies across the entire country, correct?
Benny Martinez (27:31):
Absolutely. And, and I think that's what we all believe in, but sometimes it, it's very discouraging when you actually have to kind of battle the, the administration in this case, uh, and for them to understand what they really have created. And, and, and it's not good just because of the impact that's occurring. Uh, you just can't put, uh, a number in terms of monies to, uh, perspective issues and, and they're gonna go away. It, it's not like that.
Jenny Beth Martin (28:01):
Now you said you have three different aspects. You mentioned, um, the public health aspect mm-hmm.
Benny Martinez (28:11):
Public health, like during the time of covid, when it was out, 20% of the, of the bodies we recovered were positive for covid. Okay. And then there's other issues, underlying issues that we don't even know about that they might be carrying because there's no contact made with them. The, the what you refer to the getaways around what, what are they carrying with them? Alright, that's what I'm talking about. 'cause they're, they're just like us. Not does, not every country deals with the health issues they have promptly, like we do. They, they're different e even though they get a lot of funding from the United States, but there's no accountability on what they do with a particular funding.
Jenny Beth Martin (28:51):
And then what kind of national security issues?
Benny Martinez (28:55):
Well, the MS 13 is definitely a security issue. Uh, the, the, the countries you mentioned prior is a definitely a security issue. So that's all the issues we deal with because it is a cartel and, and they're well organized, they're well greased and, and they can move things quickly and they can move and they can adapt and, and, and kind of reorganize and, and go a different route. You know, you stop the water leak on the left side, they're gonna open it up on the right side and vice versa. They have ways, means to communicate and get things done a lot quicker really than us. Simply because their, their way of communicating is easier in terms of if you don't do what I tell you, I'll just get someone else to do it and they won't find you again. Right. When we have to follow the rule of law, we have to follow what's in place, you know, dot or i's and cross their T's. They don't need to do that.
Jenny Beth Martin (29:45):
Well, and if they don't see you again, it is not just, um, following the rule of law, but it's actually respecting human life as well and not making people disappear.
Benny Martinez (29:57):
Exactly. And that's what they'll do. It's that easy for 'em.
Jenny Beth Martin (30:01):
Elaborate on it's MS 13. Elaborate on, on that. I would imagine that there are some people who might be listening to this who may, they don't even understand what that is. And maybe they think that cartels being in charge of the border or being involved with the border on the southern side. Mm-hmm.
Benny Martinez (30:23):
No, it's not. Even the MS 13, they're already vetted pretty much in the United States. Uh, they are, uh, a very volatile, uh, gang that as the cartels, they, they just take care of business. They, they in terms of just, you know, getting you, putting you away for a while. So that's what they do. And, and it's very critical for us to understand that. It's critical, critical for us to kind of like, in terms of this administration, making sure that all federal entities take their gloves off and go and go to work and, and go after these people. They know, I'm sure we know where they're at. It's just a matter of, you know, executing what the law says, executing the law. That's it. There are violations.
Jenny Beth Martin (31:07):
And what are the kind of violations that we're experiencing?
Benny Martinez (31:10):
Oh, you, you pretty much name it. It'd be homicide, it'd be rape. It'll be just holding you hostage for whatever reason, for extra money, extortion, whatever they do it. Uh, stolen vehicles. Uh, I mean, you just name it, they're, they're right behind it. They, because it's all about funding. It's all about about monies for them.
Jenny Beth Martin (31:28):
And when you say cartels, and you mentioned MS 13, what other, um, entities are involved with cartels?
Benny Martinez (31:36):
Well, that, that spreads a lot. It spreads because, you know, you have your locals also that will become part of that. You have other sub, uh, gang members that, that wanna be part of that. So they're gonna make every effort to get themselves noticed and then do something they shouldn't do. And now, now they're in, you know, there's no way of, there's no way to turn back on what they've just done. So that's how they recruit, that's how they retain, uh, through force, through enforcement, uh, the way they do it. Not so much our enforcement, but the way they do their own enforcement.
Jenny Beth Martin (32:13):
What is a typical day like for you and for your deputies?
Benny Martinez (32:18):
You know, and, and that's, every day is different. So it varies. We, I, we either do going out and, and handling fences or picking up recovering bodies or we, we just doing, uh, local issues, you know, uh, local crime that we also have to deal with that that doesn't go away because you're dealing with other things. So it, it just varies on, on any given day. And I think that's what I always liked about law enforcement. Every day is different. Every day brings you a new challenge, but challenges are good 'cause you learn from them.
Jenny Beth Martin (32:54):
What are some of the, uh, challenges that you've had that, and lessons you've learned?
Benny Martinez (33:01):
Actually just doing this in, in terms of the dead bodies, because I, in working for the state police, you deal with different issues. Working for the county, you deal with everything, all the above. And, and this has been one of the biggest challenges, uh, in, in terms of recovering the bodies, getting 'em identified, working with the consulates, working with the, uh, NamUs, uh, those, that components that makes it a, uh, makes, makes everyone get identified, creates the identification path, uh, working with universities. So it really has opened up a lot more, um, I guess avenues, but with more challenges with more longer tail, should I say, to make things, make things happen at, at the end of the day, get 'em correct.
Jenny Beth Martin (33:45):
I think that what you're doing is, I, I think that the fact that you have 60, uh, on average dead bodies a week, that's over one a week that, that on average you're dealing with. And it's tragic. It's absolutely tragic. And it seems to me that you're trying your best to find a way to deal with a very tragic situation in a humane and respectful manner so that they hopefully can be identified, sent back to the country where, where they were from and, and be treated in a way that if we were, that if you were found in that situation, you would wanna be treated
Benny Martinez (34:27):
Well. You know, I've always believed, if you believe in the rule of law, you believe that once you on on us soil, it's due process. And, and with that comes everything else with it. Because we all know what happens when you're out there alone and it's a slow death. Okay. You know, it's coming. It is not like we just get hit by a car and, and that's it. This is slow. You know, you're dying. So it, it is one of those things that you just want to go and kind of clean it up sort of and, and make sure put, uh, everyone at, at, at, at ease and, and kind of give them that, that proper caring that they need. 'cause they're found out there by themselves. You know, there's, there's a lot of, you know, you find missing limbs, you know, you have a, uh, it is just not a good looking body when you get out there. If there's a body,
Jenny Beth Martin (35:19):
Well, it's 105 degrees here today, and this isn't the hottest day. I mean, that's it, it probably does not take very long after they've died to have decomposition set in, in a rather brutal manner.
Benny Martinez (35:36):
Absolutely. And, and, and they know it. Okay. And, and this is why it's important, you know, we have over two, 300 placards out there that the border patrol have put out there that in different areas where they feel they can see 'em and call it in if they need to help. Uh, we have, uh, beacons also. They just turn the beacon on and they stay put. They, they go get help. So it's there, you know, most of the agents are trained to apply the iv, et cetera. So it's also there. So there's been a lot put forth to help them if they call us for a rescue, uh, and it, it happens, right? It happens. But then again, if we miss that one person, it's gonna be, uh, it's gotta be done in a timely manner to get there. Providing that someone calls us in a timely manner.
(36:31):
You know, I've had instances where a young lady got hit just half a mile south of the checkpoint itself, and it took four days later to call us because the guide got all the way to the, to the respective state. And then the family members had to fly into Texas to tell us about the body where they could have just as easily notified us when they first got hit. So in things like that, it is very frustrating because we could have done something about it quicker versus, you know, four or five days later, almost a week. And we go through that. Why? Because they're scared. They're scared to call, they're told not to call. And, and if they get lost or they need help, they'll tell 'em, you gotta wait an hour or two before you reach out for some type of assistance so we can get away. Things like that. Things like that, that no one really knows that it's happening, but it does happen. Uh, you know, it, it is just, it's a sad thing, you know, because it's a slow death.
Jenny Beth Martin (37:36):
What, what's terrible about the situation that you just described is that the people who are helping these people get across the border first, they're not, they're enabling them to get across. I don't think it's helpful. Um, they, they have, it seems to me they have no regard for human life. They're, it's more of a, a product or a commodity and they're doing a job. And you, if they called you regardless of the circumstances, whether they, um, are, are here legally or not. And regardless of all of that, you're still going to offer them the, the care that they need if they're in distress. Absolutely.
Benny Martinez (38:18):
And that's the right thing to do. It
Jenny Beth Martin (38:19):
Is the right thing to do. And yet the, the people who are helping them, and I use that in air quotes, for people who are listening and don't see my hands, hand gestures. They're, they're not really helping in, in, they don't, they don't, they just care about themselves. They don't care about the people who they claim to be helping at all.
Benny Martinez (38:38):
Yes. Because, and and that's a proven fact is every time when we go out there and we rescue someone, we ask what happened? Well, I got my, I got sick. Uh, maybe I didn't drink the right water or whatever the case might be. Maybe, uh, 'cause that, or I got injured, sprained my ankle, my knee, and I got left behind leading away from me. Or I woke up and there was no one around. They're gone. So, and, and that's what happens. And this is where this particular person gets turned around. 'cause they don't know which way to go. The only one that knows is gonna be the guide. And, and, and that's, I mean, I can just imagine someone out there in this heat, right? And not knowing which way to go. 'cause everybody don't know which way is north or east or west for that matter. And they go in circles.
Jenny Beth Martin (39:27):
Wait, and I've seen enough of the land out here. If you're not right next to a road, you, you could be out in a field in the brush. You may not even be that far away at all from a road, but you just don't, if you get turned around, you could be going in circles. Um, and help could be fairly nearby, but you're just stuck in, in the middle of the, the wilderness.
Benny Martinez (39:54):
Well, we, we, and it's, it's quite true because correct statement, we picked up a body that was just along the fence line, probably maybe six feet from the major highway. That's where he died. That's, that's how he could go. He couldn't go anymore. So of course the grass was high and they couldn't see him. Right. But we found him 'cause a rancher saw him. So we, we went over there and, and I mean, he was that close. Probably not the length of the tide. That's how close he was to the main roadway. If you would've just crawled out, he would've, someone would've seen him and he would've been rescued. But that's how close they get. They just don't know where they're at.
Jenny Beth Martin (40:36):
Right. Um, the, you mentioned how many dead bodies, and you've mentioned rescues. How many rescues do you, do you a year?
Benny Martinez (40:47):
Oh, it, it's, there's plenty of 'em. You know, 400, maybe more. Oh. But yeah, it, it, again, it's rescues because they actually call us early enough before they get to that stage where they just can't talk. And sometimes we let 'em know, okay, go ahead and turn your phone off and then call us again later. When you, when you get to a certain point that we think you ought to be or stay where you're at, turn the phone off and then call us again to make sure someone gets there to you because it's their phone. It just runs out like anything else. It runs outta battery on as you, there's no charger out there. So this is why the placards are there. If they were to just get to a placard or, or a, a beacon and call it in signal the beacon, call it in and stay there. We'll find them as long as they don't move. Because that, that's why they're there. They're, each thing is numbered and we know exactly where it is.
Jenny Beth Martin (41:42):
So your constituents are the, the voters here in Brooks County. What are the kind of things you hear from them about the situation?
Benny Martinez (41:51):
Well, they, they, they understand it. And, and, and they understand that what's happening is just a humanitarian type of issue, right? 'cause they, we've been around here, I was born and raised here, so I've seen this even back at the age of 10. But back then it was different. You only get one or two persons going, going through versus, you know, 20 or 30 at the same time. Right. So the number has increased. Uh, the makeup of the person has changed. Uh, their demands are different. Okay. So the, there's just the whole makeup of it is, has turned around on us to where no one, how one feels safe. How is that different? No one feels safe no more. Uh, we have a lot of ranchers that have moved out. A lot of families have moved out, uh, just simply because we just can't get there in time. Okay. And instead of them just taking a chance of defending themselves and, and, and just getting to the point where they, they might have to, you know, hurt someone real bad, they just move out. Uh, so that, that's what they go through. That's what they've been going through. So that's why a lot of people have moved out of the, of the respective ranches
Jenny Beth Martin (43:06):
In our And are they selling the ranches or the ranch? What happens to the ranches at that
Benny Martinez (43:10):
Point? Well, they still keep the ranch, but they, they all come in, in, in numbers now to back to the ranch to where they can get enough help and, and, and, and things are settled to where they don't have to worry about it. 'cause you have other people there that can handle situations. Right. And, and maybe even speak the language and, and help 'em just move on. Uh, 'cause no one really wants to do anything bad to 'em. It's just the fact that they get scared because it is kind of pop out of nowhere. Here I am, I need this, this, this, and the other. So that makes it real difficult for them too, because they're, they're away from, uh, city, from the, the closest city. So it, it makes it hard.
Jenny Beth Martin (43:52):
You said that the demands of the people who are coming across the border and the makeup of those people are different than when you were younger when you were a child. How, what are, what is the difference?
Benny Martinez (44:02):
Well, the demand. The demand is the fact that they, they either, if your car's there and if they have keys in the car, they're gonna take it. If, if they need, uh, they're going to try to force themselves into the house, to either their, use your phone if they need a phone or whatever else they might need. There's no respect anymore like it used to be, back when I was growing up, you know, they were pretty, actually, they were polite. You know, they just need water. They need a little sandwich or something to get it. And they keep going. Uh, nowadays you don't do that. Now you have, like I said, either 5, 10, 15 or more people that show up. And you know, I mean, it, it is difficult, right? Because you don't know what's with them. You don't know what they're carrying. And if you see, uh, a group, you don't really know who the main person is and how volatile he can get. Right. So you have to be cognizant of that and be aware of, of those surroundings. And, and that's what makes it, you know, difficult.
Jenny Beth Martin (45:03):
What motivates you to keep doing this? Why are you gonna run for reelection and, and continue doing this? I,
Benny Martinez (45:09):
I think, you know, in, in law enforcement, it's more of a calling. It is not so much to, to have a large income. 'cause it's not about that. Uh, it is just a calling. And, and I guess I've just been around it for so long, you know, I, you know, 43 going on 44 years. So it is just one of those things that I want to continue to do until I, I feel like, okay, I can't help anymore. I'm done. Right. So, I mean, and there's moments like that, don't get me wrong, uh, just because of the way things are now, but I'm, I'm still, I can still do it. I, I can still move around and, uh, I still enjoy it again, every day. Like I mentioned, every day is different. The challenges are different. And I like that. 'cause it, it just kind of keeps you moving, keeps you thinking, uh, and everything that comes with it. Because you also have your good side too, to being, being a sheriff, you meet a lot of great people. Uh, and you see a lot of kids grow up in the community and go on to better themselves and, and, and, and get a solid education. So that's good. That's what you want. That's what you, uh, that's why you invest back in the community. They, they're the ones that got me here. So I'm just investing back, giving back to them.
Jenny Beth Martin (46:28):
That's very good. And you've been involved in law enforcement for 43 years, is that what you just said? Yes. What, what was your first position?
Benny Martinez (46:36):
I, I was, I was highway patrolman for the state police.
Jenny Beth Martin (46:39):
How long did you do that?
Benny Martinez (46:41):
Oh, maybe 12, I think. And then after that, I got into the, the world of narcotics back then. That's what they used to call it. And we did good work. I enjoyed it. You know.
Jenny Beth Martin (46:53):
And you're still dealing with narcotics today, just in a different manner now, correct?
Benny Martinez (46:57):
Yes. Different manner. Now you have someone else to do it. Right. But, uh, no, it, it is really good. I, I enjoy it. I really do. Uh, it, it's almost the same method, but you have different people now, different players playing it. Mm-hmm.
Jenny Beth Martin (47:41):
What would you tell the average American citizen, uh, what would you want them to know about the situation that you, that you face if they're listening to this, what, what is, what are the important points you'd wanna say to them? And then I'm gonna ask you, what do you, what would you say to Washington DC
Benny Martinez (48:02):
I think, I would say to Washington, DC is let let the federal government work. Let them do what they're supposed to do. You know, quit, quit, uh, applying policies that really, that it's not gonna help us at all. Or help the federal agencies to work. I think d e A does a great job. Uh, so is ICE. And, and d h ss, they, they all, they all wanna work. And it's very discouraging to 'em when, when the king work. Right. Who wouldn't be discouraged? Right. Right. It, it hurts the morale. As I say, uh, what I would say to, to the public is just, Hey, this is happening. We really need, and the the fact is we really need, uh, different policies to secure this border. We just can't make it a safe passageway in terms of how they see it as just come over and you'll be okay.
(48:53):
That type. I, I think we, we need to follow the rule of law. I, I think that's important. I think that, uh, we need to kind of like start being aware of our surroundings as to how things are developing and how society is changing. Uh, we, we, we need to understand that. And we need to be careful with it. That it, it doesn't get too far out there on the left, on the left side to where we're not gonna be able to bring it to the middle and, and, and be, you know, uh, safe and, and, and kinda feel comfortable what's occurring. And not just one sided. Uh, it's because it is, it can get very difficult, very complex. And I think we all understand that. We all understand how complex this issue is. We get it, we really do. Law enforcement does, but we're just, we're following the rule of law. We're following what the laws are there. Okay. So I, I think everyone is to be aware of that.
Jenny Beth Martin (49:56):
Okay. And then one last thing I wanna hit on, you mentioned how Border, border Patrol, customs, ice, d e a, they, they wanna do their jobs. Uh, these are agents who, especially when it, it comes to border patrol, and I imagine the same thing applies to ice, um, customs. They, they live here, right? They're part of the community. They, they want the community here to be safe. It's not like they're just in for this position in the positions that they have for a couple years before they move on up the, the bureaucratic ladder. This is their home. And it must be very difficult. You probably hear a lot more of it from those agents because they live nearby.
Benny Martinez (50:43):
Well, absolutely. And and they're friends of mine that I've known for many years. And it's, it's, it's really sad, really, when they can't do what they wanna do, they know how to do it. They just don't let 'em do it. Uh, via policies or whatever, whatever manner or whatever way they want to come, throw it out there in conversation. And what is being done is not correct. And, and it's, it is frustrating for them. It's frustrating for me, but more for them. 'cause this comes from the federal side versus the state side. And, and, and, and, and I've always worked alongside the, the federal government. I believe in what they do, uh, because we're all trained to do the right thing. And it's very difficult when you're not allowed to do the right thing.
Jenny Beth Martin (51:30):
Well, I hope that the people who are listening to this podcast understand what you're saying and that we can help put pressure on Washington DC to urge the administration to, to do the right thing, to follow the law and Congress, to, to exert their checks and balances to do that. It's, I just, I really appreciate the fact that you let us come here today and just show and discuss the problems for the lack of law enforcement that, that you see and that affect the rest of the country.
Benny Martinez (52:06):
It impacts the whole country. It really does.
Jenny Beth Martin (52:10):
And what you and your officers, and the ranchers and the people who live in this community experience with the, the people who are dying here, that's not humane. What you are doing, the way that you're treating them, I think is the most humane thing that you can do. And you're treating them with dignity. But this is, this is not humane. Our policies are not humane. They actually harm people.
Benny Martinez (52:36):
Absolutely.
Jenny Beth Martin (52:38):
Well, thank you very much for your time. We're gonna do all we can to continue to educate the public about, about the situation and do everything that we can to try to get the rule of law to be enforced at the federal level.
Benny Martinez (52:51):
Thank you for dropping by.
Jenny Beth Martin (52:53):
Thank you very much. Mm-hmm.
Narrator (52:55):
Good. Jenny Beth Show is hosted by Jenny Beth Martin, produced by Kevin Mohan and directed by Luke Livingston. The Jenny Beth Show is a production of Tea Party Patriots action. For more information, visit tea party patriots.org.
Jenny Beth Martin (53:16):
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