A Border Patrol union in Laredo, Texas, will no longer meet with Donald Trump during his Thursday visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a statement from the union released on Thursday morning.
“After careful consideration of all the factors involved in this event and communicating with members of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) at the National level, it has been decided by Local 2455 to pull out of all events involving Donald Trump,” Hector Gaza, the president of the National Border Patrol Council Local 2455 in Laredo said in a statement.
“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,” Gaza said. “As Local 2455, 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.”
Gaza also clarified that the union never intended to endorse Trump.
“Just to be clear, an endorsement was never discussed for any presidential candidate. Local 2455 does not endorse candidates for any political office,” he said.
Despite the Border Patrol union’s decision to pull out of the event, Trump is intent on heading to the border anyway, according to NBC News and Dallas television station WFAA.
Getting ready to lift off for Laredo. Will land at 1:OO P.M. Should be exciting and informative!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2015
Border patrol union pulls out of all Trump events today. Trump ppl tell me they are STILL coming. @NBCNews
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) July 23, 2015
Trump campaign acting unfazed by the last minute “disinvite”. Boarding plane now will be here regardless
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) July 23, 2015
#DEVELOPING: Donald Trump “tour” of the physical Int’l border cancelled, but his campaign says “We are still coming to Laredo.” #2016
— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) July 23, 2015
