The Border Patrol agents who would patrol Donald Trump’s promised border wall endorsed the GOP presidential frontrunner Wednesday, saying he’s shown he’s not beholden to special interests and is willing to buck stiff media criticism to do what he thinks is right.
The National Border Patrol Council, the labor union representing line agents, said it has never endorsed in a party primary before, but the agents said they felt they had to speak up now to back Mr. Trump.
“We need a person in the White House who doesn’t fear the media, who doesn’t embrace political correctness, who doesn’t need the money, who is familiar with success, who won’t bow to foreign dictators, who is pro-military and values law enforcement, and who is angry for America and NOT subservient to the interests of other nations. Donald Trump is such a man,” the agents said in their endorsement, capturing some of the appeal Mr. Trump has shown.
The agents said they judged Mr. Trump in part by his opponents, who they said were “all the people responsible for the problems plaguing America today.”
Agents join a host of other major figures in the immigration fight in backing Mr. Trump: Sen. Jeff Sessions, a leader in the fight against the 2013 Senate immigration bill; Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio; and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, architect of the state-level push to crack down on illegal immigration.
The agents, who have fought against the Obama administration’s efforts to reduce and reshape enforcement of immigration laws, said Mr. Trump has helped propel the issue to the forefront of the presidential debate, and they praised him for remaining firm in his position even in the face of stiff criticism.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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