Donald Trump greets supporters before speaking in Bluffton, S.C., on July 21, 2015. (Stephen B. Morton, AP)
A union of border patrol agents says its members will not accompany Donald Trump on his Thursday tour near the Texas-Mexico border, saying the event has become too politicized.
“Just to be clear, an endorsement was never discussed for any presidential candidate,” saida statement from Hector Garza, president of Local 2455 of the National Border Patrol Council. “Local 2455 does not endorse candidates for any political office.”
A statement from Trump’s office said that border patrol agents have been “silenced” by superiors in Washington, D.C.
“It can only be assumed that there are things the politicians in Washington do not want Americans to see or discuss,” the Trump statement said. “It shows that we are not even safe in our own country.”
In discussing the visit earlier this week, Trump said that “border patrols” had invited him because of frustrations over the flow of migrants from Mexico. He told Fox News that agents “want to do their job,” but “are not allowed to do their job at the border.”
Border officials said they offer tours to any number of candidates and lawmakers.
“Our intentions to meet with Mr. Trump was to provide a ‘Boots on the Ground’ perspective to not only Mr. Trump, but to the media that would be in attendance at this event,” Garza said in his statement.
Now, he said, “it has been decided by Local 2455 to pull out of all events involving Donald Trump.”
Garza also said, “make no mistake, our border with Mexico is not secure and there’s no doubt that we need to have an honest discussion about that with the American people. Local 2455 will continue to represent our members to the best of our abilities and will make sure that our members concerns are heard by the American people.”
The schedule says Trump plans to meet with a variety of law enforcement officials during his trip to Laredo, Texas.
Trump has made illegal immigration the centerpiece of his campaign. His claims that Mexico is sending “criminals” and “rapists” across the border has drawn criticism from immigration groups who say the businessman is anti-Hispanic.
Protesters are expected to greet Trump when his plane lands Thursday in Laredo, a city with a population that is nearly 96% Latino.
One of Trump’s Republican opponents, former Texas governor Rick Perry, said he’s glad the businessman is “finally” traveling to the border, and “I hope he will explain to the Hispanic Americans he meets why he thinks they are rapists and murderers.”
In his Fox interview, Trump predicted that Hispanics would support him because he will seal the border and “bring jobs back to America.”