County News Category

Category: County News

Hays Dems Responds to Commissioner Walt Smith's Proposal on "Fair Treatment and Justice"

The Hays County Democratic Party (HaysDems) wants to remind everyone that the U.S. Constitution promises equal justice under law to all people in the country — no matter where they’re from, what they look like, or what their political views are.

The Constitution says that no one should lose their life, freedom, or property without a fair legal process. It also protects people from being locked up unjustly or for too long without a good reason.

About Immigrants in ICE Detention

Many immigrants in detention are not given the rights the Constitution guarantees. Some are held for a long time without being told what they’re charged with or without a lawyer to help them.

On June 10, 2025, the Hays County Commissioners Court passed a resolution in support fair and humane treatment of all individuals in Hays County. It reminds us that the Constitution protects everyone in the U.S. — even people who aren’t citizens.

We support the County’s call for honesty, transparency and equity in how people are arrested, transported, and held. Officers should wear body cameras and name tags, and the public should be told who is being detained, where they are going, and why.

Comparing to the January 6 Insurrection

On June 20, Commissioner Walt Smith proposed a new resolution. In it, he tries to compare how immigrants are treated with how people who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 have been treated. This comparison is just plain wrong.

Immigrants are often picked up without warning and held without basic rights. The January 6 attackers were part of a violent effort to stop the results of a legal election. Virtually all of them have been given lawyers, had their day in court, and had the chance to see the evidence against them — much of which was captured on video, photos, and texts from their own phones and social media accounts.

It’s a lie to suggest that January 6 insurrectionists were treated without due process. Those claims are not backed up by the facts. Saying otherwise only spreads conspiracy theories that don’t belong in government discussions.

Real Justice Means Telling the Truth

The Commissioners Court resolution passed on June 10 supports our country’s values: treating people equally under the law and protecting everyone’s rights. That’s why we support it.

But Walt Smith’s proposal is a clear attempt to turn people who broke the law into victims. It’s a political stunt meant to please the extremist voices in his party, not a serious call for justice.

Final Message

We believe standing up for equal justice and legal rights is not about politics — it’s about what’s right. But twisting those ideas to protect people who attacked our democracy is dead wrong. We call on our elected leaders to treat everyone impartially, tell the truth, and understand the big difference between standing up for justice and attacking our country.

Posted on 21 Jun 2025, 16:54 - Category: County News

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Category: County News

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