AFL-CIO Controlled Union Cancels Trump Border Tour Planned by Local Agents
July 23, 2015
Brandon Darby
Donald Trump’s planned tour of the Laredo Sector of the Texas -Mexico border has been canceled by the national AFL-CIO-controlled union that represents U.S. Border Patrol agents, the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC). Border Patrol agent Hector Garza acted in his role as Local 2455 president to honor Trump by inviting him to see his section of border in Laredo firsthand. Agent Garza confirmed to Breitbart Texas that the national union had stepped in and insisted that the Laredo local back out of honoring Trump with the border tour. Agent Garza said he expected Trump to continue without the participation of the union.
An inside source with knowledge of the internal NBPC discussion over the Trump visit told Breitbart Texas, “The union is about to put out a press release saving face for the local who invited Trump and the union itself by saying they are canceling their participation because Trump said he was “being honored” and that “agents supported him.”
One Border Patrol agent who spoke with Breitbart Texas on the condition of anonymity said, “The union has largely appealed to the public for more attention to the dangers posed by illegal immigrants who cross the border, so it’s strange that the AFL-CIO side would take lead and try to hurt a presidential candidate for saying the same things the union always says. This kind of crap is why I left the union.” The agent continued, “The agents who actually work on the border invited him. This seems contrived.”
To understand the reasons behind Local 2455 inviting Trump to bring attention to what the agents are facing, a brief understanding of the Texas-Mexico border and the Laredo Sector’s struggles are needed.
Texas has five border sectors. from East to West they are the Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV), the Laredo Sector, the Del Rio Sector, the Big Bend Sector, and the El Paso Sector. Immediately after Breitbart Texas broke the June 5, 2014 leaked images of minors warehoused in RGV Border Patrol facilities, the State of Texas announced an effort to help secure the border. However, in that instance, Texas only sent help to the RGV Sector, largely ignoring the Laredo Sector.
Both the RGV and Laredo Sectors are worse off than most of the other sectors on the U.S.-Mexico border, largely due to the behaviors and characteristics of the specific Mexican cartels operating in these areas. Most of the border has the more professional Sinaloa Federation, an entity very concerned with keeping a low profile and staying out of the public eye. Both the Gulf and the Zetas have had leadership decimated and younger, less professional leaders take over and war with each other. Unlike the RGV Sector that received state help to handle the Gulf cartel, the Laredo Sector has largely been left to fight a losing battle against the Zetas cartel.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...-local-agents/
Trump Defiant: Still Heading to Border After Union Backs Out
by Brandon Darby
23 Jul 2015
Donald Trump is still heading to the Texas border despite the local Border Patrol agents’ union being forced to back out of honoring him with a tour by their union boss in the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC). The union, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, forced the Local 2455 out of participating in the border tour that the local had invited Trump to attend. The cancellation was done late in the evening before the scheduled tour.
Hours after Breitbart Texas broke the news of the canceled participation, Local 2455 released this statement:
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.
As a local of the NBPC, our purpose is to support and protect the men and women who protect our borders. 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.
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.
Just to be clear, an endorsement was never discussed for any presidential candidate. Local 2455 does not endorse candidates for any political office.
For these reasons, Local 2455 will not participate in any events with Mr. Trump.
Trump responded with this press release:
The National Border Patrol Council, Local 2455 in Laredo, Texas, invited Mr. Trump to be their guest and then they were totally silenced directly from superiors in Washington who do not want people to know how bad it is on the border — every bit as bad as Mr. Trump has been saying.
Despite the great danger, Mr. Trump is traveling to Laredo, TX to proceed with the visit to the border. It is unfortunate the local union of Border Patrol Agents received pressure at a national level not to participate and ultimately pulled out of today’s event. They are being silenced, and are very unhappy about it, as told directly to Mr. Trump. It can only be assumed that there are things the politicians in Washington do not want Americans to see or discuss. It shows that we are not even safe in our own country. It is time to face these hard truths and Make America Great Again!
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...ion-backs-out/
