Texas residents applaud Trump’s border and immigration orderspublished at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Earlier in January – before Trump’s inauguration – I spent several days in Texas’ Hidalgo and Starr counties, both nestled along the US-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley.
There, many locals told me the day-to-day realities of living on the border increasingly opened their eyes to, what they described as, the dangers of illegal immigration.
I’ve been speaking to a few of them today – who tell me that they’re extremely pleased with Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico border, his plans to deploy troops and declare cartels as terrorist groups.
Among them is David Porras, a rancher, farmer and botanist who lives in Rio Grande City.
David Porras says immigration and the border must be controlled
“We know what’s going on down here – and now the tables have turned,” he tells the BBC. “You’ve got to control it [the border]”.
While Porras says he believes immigration is “essential” to the US economy, he adds that it needs to be done the “right way”. Illegal migration, he says, “puts money into the coffers of the cartels” that control illicit activities at the border.
“Trump’s headed in the right direction,” he says. “It’s got to be controlled.”
Another Republican, Hidalgo County resident Demesio Guerrero – a naturalised citizen originally from Mexico – says Trump’s return “is a once in a lifetime” event for those at the border.
“He’s very brave,” Guerrero tells me in Spanish. “In front of Biden, in front of the world he said that we would correct all the stupid, dumb things he’s done down here. It’s remarkable.”
