The leader of the nation's largest U.S. Border Patrol union local says it does not have a practice of endorsing political candidates, but the group issued a statement Friday praising Donald Trump for being the only candidate to support its mission.
"Mr. Trump is the only candidate that has publicly expressed his support of our mission and our agents," Art Del Cueto, president of Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council, said in the statement, reports
The Washington Examiner. "He has been an outspoken candidate on the need for a Secure Border and for this we are grateful."
Trump did seek an endorsement earlier this week from the local, which represents 18,000 agents, said Del Cueto, but it does not endorse candidates. The statement, though, was very close to an endorsement, commenting that "American public deserves to be secure in their own country and we encourage all voters to consider that candidate that has the political will to make it happen."
"The American public has continually called for a secure border and Donald Trump has promised to make this desire a reality," said the statement.
"His campaign has expressed an interest in a Border Patrol's Agent's perspective and a tour of our border, that we will gladly provide. We do not seek to give tours but if asked we will happily provide a tour that gives a realistic idea of what our Agents face on a daily basis. Donald Trump is the only candidate who has expressed this interest."
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