The Problem

The border isn’t just a political issue anymore, it’s a failure of leadership on both sides of the aisle. It is more politically profitable to point fingers, dismiss bipartisan legislation, and pit Americans against aspiring Americans. Meanwhile, no real action is taken to reform a broken system that leaves those who have tried to go through the system properly languishing in endless delay, those who have taken advantage of the system have gone without consequence or recourse, and criminals have been left to their own devices while ICE has failed miserably at chasing down real criminals while apprehending, and in some cases murdering, those that should not have been in their cross hairs. 

Through all of the chaos, communities on the front lines are dealing with the consequences every day: overwhelmed local services, strained law enforcement, and a system that leaves migrants stuck in limbo or fearing for their lives. Meanwhile, politicians turn it into theater, weaponizing our rage for their midterms and arguing performatively on TV while nothing gets fixed. We have spent too long choosing between human dignity and border security as though we cannot have both when we definitely can.

Texas border communities deserve a border that is secure, predictable, and governed by law. Law enforcement should have the resources to stop fentanyl, weapons, human trafficking, cartels, and violent criminals from entering our country. Families and businesses should not have to absorb the costs of a federal system that is overwhelmed and politically manipulated.

But securing the border should not mean treating every person who crosses it as a criminal.

There are people, “tired masses” who come to America to work, raise families, escape persecution, build businesses, and contribute to our communities. There are also people who exploit our immigration system, traffic drugs and human beings, join criminal organizations, or use legal loopholes to circumvent the process. A serious immigration policy in Texas and nationwide, has to be capable of telling the difference. Texas should set the standard.

My approach is simple:

I reject the false choice between open borders and closed hearts. Texas has the right and the responsibility to manage who enters the country. At the same time, America has always been a place where people who come here legally, work hard, contribute, and commit to becoming part of this country can build a better future.

That means our immigration system should create a clear front door, a secure border, and a real path forward for people willing to follow the rules. We should do it in a way that doesn’t shame our status as functioning human beings. The goal must be to build a system people can actually navigate, while securing the border and enforcing the law. We must focus on dismantling the criminal networks and make doing things the right way worth it.

Where I Stand

I’m not interested in slogans or extremes, but I will say that ICE needs to be put on ice until it has its systems, priorities, training, and procedures in order. The way it currently operates, in anonymity, without a real plan and without consequences for its many failures jeopardizes not only undocumented immigrants, but citizens, protesters, and bystanders. Training has not been sufficient and neither has the vetting process for new ICE agents. What is currently playing out is beneath us. It does not represent the heart of Texas.

We can uphold our values and secure the border at the same time. Here’s the truth. Texas has room. It has room to welcome the right future citizens. Determining who is “right” should have nothing to do with race, religion, or the country they are hailing from. Right means going through the right process, the right way, and coming with the right attitude around some level of necessary cultural assimilation while being able to take pride in one’s native heritage, culture, and language. 

That means treating people with basic human dignity while righting the system, fixing its flaws and loopholes, enforcing current laws with an intent not to cause unnecessary harm, restoring control where there is real (and not imagined) lawlessness. It also means ending the incentives and dysfunction that are driving the crisis in the first place. This isn’t about being “soft” or “tough.” It’s about being effective. Someone seeking a better life should not be treated like a cartel operative. A cartel operative should not be treated like someone seeking a better life. It’s that simple.

Our policies should be wise enough to know the difference and tough enough to protect Americans.

What I’ll Do

Restore Control at the Border
Enforce existing laws consistently and re-establish operational control so communities aren’t left to absorb the fallout of federal failure.

Fix the Broken System
Speed up asylum processing so claims are resolved in months, not years and reduce the backlog that fuels uncertainty, scamming, and abuse.

Create Legal Work Pathways
Expand lawful work options that reduce illegal crossings while supporting the economy and bringing people into the system the right way.

Coordination Over Politicization
Force real coordination between federal, state, and local authorities so resources go where they’re needed and results are measurable.

Support Border Communities
Deliver targeted federal funding to the towns and cities carrying the burden, instead of leaving them to manage a national problem alone.

How We Measure Success

Not by headlines and not by political talking points. Here are the results I will be aiming for:

• ICE Reform with an overhaul on selection, training, and procedure

• Sustained reduction in unlawful crossings and repeat entries

• Faster identification and removal of individuals who pose genuine security or criminal threats

• Improved detection and interdiction of drugs, weapons, and human trafficking

• Faster case processing times

• Dramatically reduced asylum and immigration backlogs

• Defined processing targets for major immigration categories

• Real-time case-status visibility for applicants

• Fewer years-long waits for people who have complied with the law

• Measurable improvement in processing efficiency without sacrificing due process

• Lower strain on local services

• Increased disruption of trafficking and money-laundering networks

• More cartel leaders, traffickers, and financiers identified and prosecuted

• A defined, accountable process for qualifying long-term undocumented residents to register and earn lawful status

• Clear consequences for fraud, serious criminal conduct, trafficking, and repeated abuse of the system

Note on Corruption: No Badge Above the Law

Border security depends on public trust. That trust is destroyed when a law enforcement officer takes a bribe, protects a trafficker, abuses their authority, or becomes part of the criminal network they are supposed to stop. We should stand firmly behind the men and women who serve honorably and be just as firm about removing those who do not.

I would support a Border Integrity and Anti-Corruption Initiative that strengthens independent oversight of federal, state, and local personnel assigned to border operations.

That means:

• Mandatory financial-disclosure and conflict-of-interest reviews for personnel in high-risk border assignments

• Enhanced anti-corruption screening and periodic integrity checks

• Independent investigations of credible allegations involving bribery, trafficking, evidence tampering, abuse of authority, or collusion with criminal organizations

• Strong whistleblower protections for officers and employees who report corruption

• Cross-agency monitoring of patterns that indicate organized corruption rather than isolated misconduct

• Automatic referral for federal prosecution when evidence supports criminal charges

• Removal from law-enforcement duties when serious corruption allegations are substantiated, with appropriate due process

• Enhanced penalties for public officials who knowingly assist drug traffickers, human smugglers, or organized criminal networks

The Bottom Line

Right now, we have the worst of a few worlds: inhumane treatment, weak control, broken systems, and corruption.

I will work to help deliver something better:

A functioning system with a secure border, a reduction in crime and corruption, and a country that enforces the law without losing its humanity.

Texas is becoming known across the nation as a state that is backward on race relations and full of hate for the immigrants who have been central to building it. The truth is, that has not been the experience for so many who live here and call this home, myself and my family included. Yet, fear, hate, crime and dysfunction is becoming the norm for many who were born here or came here imagining a different existence. A better system is way better than just a bigger wall. We can build something more powerful, more secure, and more humane for our future.