The nation’s largest border patrol union endorsed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Wednesday, marking the first time the union has ever made an endorsement in a presidential election cycle.
In a statement posted to its website, the National Border Patrol Council, which represents more than 16,000 border patrol agents across the U.S, described Trump as someone “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.
“Mr. Trump is as bold and outspoken as other world leaders who put their country’s interests ahead of all else,” the union claimed.
“[He] is opposed by the established powers specifically because they know he is the only candidate who actually threatens the established powers that have betrayed this country,” they added.
According to the NBPC, Trump will “embrace the ideas of rank-and-file Border Patrol agents rather than listening to the management yes-men who say whatever they are programmed to say.”
The council also claimed that Trump is solely responsible for making immigration a key issue in the current election cycle and praised him for not backing down “one iota” when he faced criticism for describing illegal immigrants as criminals and “rapists” during his presidential announcement.
“There is no greater physical or economic threat to Americans today than our open border, and there is no greater political threat than the control of Washington by special interests,” the council wrote.
“In view of these threats, the National Border Patrol Council endorses Donald J. Trump for President — and asks the American people to support Mr. Trump in his mission to finally secure the border of the United States of America, before it is too late,” they added.
Trump has previously received the endorsement of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an immigration hardliner in Arizona, and former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who’s been a vocal opponent of the Obama administration’s immigration policies.
He said Wednesday the NBPC’s endorsement “represents a total rejection of the corrupt politicians who have allowed transnational gangs and cartels to terrorize American communities.”
“As President, I will work tirelessly with the NBPC and their rank-and-file agents to secure our border once and for all,” Trump added, claiming he will “never” let America’s border patrol agents down.
