Erik De la Cruz

By Erik De la Cruz

Brownsville, TX --- Based off the title some of you may be asking yourselves “What is wrong with him? Isn’t it obvious to him that there is corruption in the Valley?” As a person that has lived in the valley for all of his life, it is more than obvious that the political system down here is ran in a way similar to how political systems are ran around the world ---hints to global political corruption. The title was chosen out of the idea that we have been running this political system in the same way for many many years, yet we are still scandalized when yet another government official is busted for some sort of corruption, at least “we the people” are.

In contrast, the media seems to not be phased by this anymore, especially since drug addled political/law enforcement figures are not weird occurrences any longer ---see Canadian Mayor Rob Ford. That is why when it came to public attention that, Jonathan Treviño, a member of the Panama Unit in the McAllen area was accused of not only “hushing down” drug raids but of keeping some of the money/drugs for himself and of distributing his gains with governmental departments and his family, it didn’t create as huge a national outrage as it should have. Furthermore, Hidalgo, Texas has been recently struck down by the knowledge that, now former, Sheriff Lupe Treviño, who also doubles as Jonathan Treviño’s father, was leading a covert drug rink using the resources at hand.

We are all well aware of the importance of “familia” down here in the valley, it is thanks to this ideal that these former cases were made possible. Even in the lowest of levels of the employment chain, i.e. fast food restaurants, convenience stores, secretarial positions, etc..., we have experienced the ability to “pull strings”. When this ability of sorts is magnified and paired with the, seemingly innate, loyalty Mexican families have to their members it is easy to create a blinding effect on the person in power. This extends to the fact that people in power end up hiring underqualified family members, thus creating a system that is both corrupt and inefficient.

Political candidate Gregg Abbot has gone as far as to compare politics in the Rio Grande Valley to politics in third world countries. As hurtful as this comment might seem to the collective ego of the Hispanic community down here in South Texas, it does raise a valid point. Corruption is alive and well everywhere around the world, but it seems to be reaching high levels in the valley; from the Vela’s, who have pleaded guilty to accusations of corruption crimes in the Progreso Independent School District, to the Trevino’s, who we have talked about in this article.

So when the question stands, “Corruption in the RGV, a reality or “Otra Leyenda Mas”?” the quick obvious answer is “yes, it is a reality”; however, the more concise answer involves meditating upon why, if it is such an obvious answer, and why, if it is such a huge problem, we are still having to deal with it.

Former Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño

Jonathan Treviño, Lupe Treviño's son's mugshot. Former Panama Unit Officer.