In an attempt to make sense of the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, Fox & Friends' Brian Kilmeade hosted an immigration town hall with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, border patrol agents, and other state officials at his "Battle at the Border" event on Sunday. The town hall was taped in San Antonio, Texas.
Abbott offered the town hall audience brief update on the border crisis in Texas, noting that they still need 130 more miles of border wall. The state starts work on 22 miles of the wall in February, finally getting a chance to spend last year’s funds.
Then, Abbott took questions from the audience. Republican Party of Texas Hispanic Engagement Director Bianca Gracia, who also co-founded the group Latinos for Trump, helped elected Abbott and is supportive of his efforts at the border. However, she wondered why he hasn't shown much love for President Trump. At least not in public.
“I want to know why you haven’t taken a stronger stance vocally supporting our president?” Gracia asked the governor. "In the media, press releases, I would like to see you have a stronger stance standing with our president because we are the forefront of this battle.”
Abbott assured Gracia he is in constant contact with the Trump administration.
“I work constantly” with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the governor explained. “I visit with the president, vice president. I’m engaged with them constantly, to make sure they have the backing they need.”
He had an immediate chance to vocalize his support for Trump when Kilmeade asked him if he’d support the president if he decided to declare a national emergency.
“I do think it’s an emergency,” Abbott said. “We want the president and Congress to do everything they can to make sure this problem gets fixed.”
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Still, Gracia said she’d like to see more press conferences.
"More important than talking to cameras, is talking to people who can pass the laws and fix the problems we’re all dealing with," Abbott replied.
Gracia's concern is an indication that many Latinos support Trump's border policies. Katie recently covered a new poll that showed Hispanic support for the president is skyrocketing. The poll, conducted by NPR/PBS News Hour/Marist, revealed that Trump's approval among Hispanics improved by 20 points since December.
The governor emphasized the importance of "passing laws that will fix our broken immigration system."
Border officials also emphasized that Congress must recognize its role in the crisis.
"Congress has not given us resources" to secure the Rio Grande and other vulnerable points of entry, said Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article read that Gracia co-founded the Latino Trump Coalition. She co-founded Latinos for Trump.
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