'Redistricting scam': Valley residents weigh in on new Texas map lines

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Rio Grande Valley residents are speaking out during Friday's Texas Senate hearing on redistricting. Many voicing an antagonist opinion on the matter.

Denise Palacios was one of dozens of Texans who came forward to share her thoughts on redrawing the state's congressional map. Palacios believes this is uncalled for five years earlier before the 2030 Census.

“I ask that this committee take the time to create a fair process truly inclusive of all Texans, with citizen input, review and approval, because legislators shouldn't be selecting their voters," Palacios said. "Voters elect their legislators.”

She was one of more than 100 people who signed up to testify in Friday’s virtual hearing, which began at 10 a.m. and went well into the afternoon hours. The majority shared a common message - they believe redistricting is being prioritized over urgent issues like flood preparedness.

Palacios says the redistricting process could lead to serious issues in times of crisis.

“A congressional member split across the state could have to decide between visiting a community hit by a hurricane or cattle ranchers hit by the epidemic of screw worms," Palacios said. "Since these two communities are eight hours away from each other, Texans deserve proper representation and attentive representatives that have the ability to meet with all of their constituents.”

Palacios claims the redistricting effort is politically motivated and designed to boost President Donald Trump’s party ahead of the midterm elections. However, not everyone who testified was against the redrawing of district lines.

Alfredo Arrellano from Maverick County supports it and says it could better reflect political shifts within the Hispanic community seen in his district and the Valley.

“I think it's time that we draw the maps to look like us, because under the voting rights act, we actually saw that we can go ahead and make minority conservative districts, especially if there is a specific area of Hispanic individuals that tend to vote the same, which in this case would be republican, because a lot of people say that Hispanics vote democrat," Arellano said.

ValleyCentral also reached out to Emily Amps after her testimony, as she says Valley communities could lose unified representation.

“As a result of this redistricting scam, it could mean that as you drive from Cameron to Hidalgo to Starr counties, you could drive through five or even more congressional districts and Abbott and Trump, they're going to do everything they can to try to cut up our communities, and especially communities of color," Amps said.

State Senator Juan 'Chuy' Hinojosa (D-20), who sits on the committee, voiced strong opposition to the hearings and the process altogether—calling the idea of redistricting mid-decade both unnecessary and unconstitutional.

“From my perspective, they are being targeted for a simple reason that they want to do away with minority representation, and it is race-based," Hinojosa said. "The type of targeting is unconstitutional.”

With an Aug. 7 deadline to submit a proposed map, people like Amps hope their voices will be heard.

“If we're not listened to by the map drawers and the people who decide whether or not to pass a map, if we're not going to be listened to by Governor Abbott, then we're just gonna have to make our voices even louder and be listened to at the ballot box," Amps said.

More hearings are scheduled for this weekend and early next week. People can sign up for the next hearings here or see a live transmission here.