U.S. Border Patrol agents reacted ecstatically to news that President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We have hope. We can take care of our country and our citizens. Do what we took an oath to do. Bring pride back to our agency,” a senior Border Patrol agent in Texas wrote in a text message Wednesday morning. “We felt like we were forced to turn our backs on our country! No more!!!”
“Feelings are high right now in a good way,” said a second agent stationed in Texas.
A third agent, a senior official stationed at the Border Patrol’s headquarters in Washington, described being “relieved” at the outcome.
“Personally, I’m relieved and hopeful that we will get back to securing the border the way we have always been meant to secure the border. My friends/colleagues are all feeling grateful and are ready to get to work to fix the border,” the third agent wrote in a text message.
Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council union, told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that he expects the incoming Trump-Vance administration to end the use of “catch and release,” or the automatic release of illegal immigrants into the country.
“Trump’s win means a return to a more secure border which we experienced during his first term, but also, the end of catch and release, an end to the influx of criminals from around the world, a notice to the cartels that they’re not going to be allowed free reign of our borders and a voice to the victims of illegal alien crime,” Perez wrote in a text message.
Under the Biden administration, more than 10.7 million people have been encountered by federal police attempting to enter the country, more than any two-term administration, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics.
Although the current administration has returned more illegal immigrants to Mexico and other countries, it has also released more than any other administration into the country to await court dates years down the road.
Rodney Scott, former Border Patrol national chief, said agents nationwide were excited about the election results.
“Yesterday America said loud and clear — we demand better. Better national security, better economic security, and a better brighter future,” said Scott, distinguished senior fellow for border security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation think tank in Austin. “Like the majority of Americans, the agents that I have spoken to are excited to get America back on track toward common-sense policies that put Americans needs first.”
“We look forward to making crime illegal again. The men and women who protect the nation’s borders are excited that we now have the strongest advocate for border security on our side (again),” said Perez. “Protecting this nation and its citizens has never been a secondary issue for President Trump, and now we can all rest assured, our country is in the best position to succeed at home and abroad.”