Texas Rangers at the Brite Ranch, near Marfa, Texas, 1918. Photograph by unknown creator. Courtesy of The Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas Libraries and Marfa Public Library.
The Texas Rangers I am referring to here is what some call the elite Texas Police Force; some have other opinions. As everyone in this country that is not living in a cave without internet ICE has been terrorizing folks here non-stop. Every day I read new reports of pregnant women, children, old people, and YES American citizens feeling their rath. Anyone with an ounce of humanity should feel disgusted by the indiscriminate use of power by ICE.
As a senior and of Mexican descent, I have experienced discrimination and abuse of power. I, however, did not expect to face it again at this level. Now, I’ve’ learned that our government is working on more effective ways to spy on all of us. Before discussing that, I’d like to share something I recently read about that has an interesting parallel.
I have been reading Jose Angel Gutierrez’s book, *Jose Tomas Canales Became “JT” *. Like many today, I struggle to find time to read. Pero, I found this book highly informative and easy to read. Especially if you have an interest in Mexican American history or just history in general.
In his book I learned that in 1918 during World War 1 a piece of legislation was enacted entitled the Hobby Loyalty Act. This act was created to protect the U.S. from espionage and disloyalty. The act was part of a broader effort to maintain national security and Texas being Texas created their own Loyalty Rangers. And honestly when I first read that, it gave me a chuckle. I imagined them knocking on a door and announcing, “This is the Loyalty Rangers” What do you want? “Is everyone there loyal”? This reminded me of a scene from Monty Phytons Life of Brian. If you have seen it, you know what I mean, if not you may want to check it out.
Pero, seriously, the Loyalty Rangers prime target were people of German descent, and you guessed it, Mexican. They would be called out to stop any actions that might undermine the war effort, like a protest. Now they might be called out to stop a “No Kings Protest”.
The force consisted of approximately 1,000 men who responded promptly to any reports of disloyalty. Individuals found guilty could face up to 25 years in prison. The group’s presence was considered alarming, and their arrival at one’s residence was frightening. Additionally, there were instances when local mobs acted independently, leading to lynchings before a trial was held. The Texas Rangers were sometimes noted for administering swift justice themselves. Reports also indicate that being associated with an accused person could result in charges filed against you or worse.
These events occurred over a century ago; however, recent developments suggest this can happen again. Reports indicate that the Trump administration has authorized the use of spyware previously employed by countries with restrictive governments, such as Saudi Arabia. While this technology was declared illegal under President Joe Biden’s administration, it has since become legal under the Trump administration for certain uses. According to official sources, its application is intended for tracking and locating undocumented immigrants. There are concerns regarding the scope of its use beyond these stated intentions. You tell me if you seriously believe he will stop there because I don’t.
This spyware attaches to your phone without you ever knowing it is there. It will mine all the information on your phone and can then move on to all your contacts. In addition, they can control your camera and microphone, and you will not even know it is there. This should scare the “Hell” out of all of us. It is time for those that keep saying “Well that’s not us” to wake up, this must stop!
By A. Govea govealberto215@yahoo.com
