EL PASO, Texas — The Border Patrol’s union has endorsed Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) for a fourth term as leader of the nation’s second-most populated state.
National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez announced on Wednesday that the union’s 16,000 rank-and-file federal agents will put their full support behind Abbott as he pursues another four-year term in Austin.
“With thousands of members here in Texas and on behalf of the National Border Patrol Council, we strongly endorse and support Gov. Greg Abbott for many reasons, but most importantly, because of the fact that during the chaotic Biden administration, if it were not for Gov. Abbott and what he did on the border, Texas would have been overrun,” Perez said, flanked by several other agents.
Abbott, 68, thanked Border Patrol agents for their steadfastness during the Biden administration’s border crisis and for their continued support after they endorsed him in the previous two election cycles.
“There is an urgent ongoing need for public safety in our state, in our communities, and I want these officers to know they have a governor in Texas who has their backs,” Abbott said.
Of the four southern border states, Texas was the most seriously affected by the surge of illegal immigrants who came into the country between 2021 and 2024.
During that time frame, 11 million people were arrested on charges of attempting to enter the country illegally or deemed inadmissible at the land ports of entry, according to Customs and Border Protection data. Roughly 2 million others were seen entering the country illegally, but evaded arrest.
Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, a state initiative to bolster border security, in 2021. More than 10,000 state National Guard members, as well as state and local law enforcement, were dispatched to Texas’s 1,250-mile-long border to assist overwhelmed federal law enforcement with apprehending illegal immigrants.
The state also launched a nationwide busing operation that provided illegal immigrants who had been released from federal custody and allowed to remain in the United States the chance to get free transportation to popular cities, including Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles.
House Republicans from Texas, as well as two dozen Republican governors, backed Abbott and blamed former President Joe Biden for not doing more to deter illegal immigration.
Abbott vowed that if he is reelected in November, he will continue to have the backs of Border Patrol agents, as well as state and local law enforcement, as they work to protect Texans across the state.
“Their endorsement means a lot,” Abbott said. ” I appreciate their support, because their support shows the great affirmation of our collective commitment to the people of Texas, to keep our communities safe.”
Earlier this month, the Texas Municipal Police Association endorsed Abbott at a Houston event, as well as leaders of local police associations from Austin, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
Abbott announced his reelection bid in early November 2025 and had $87 million in his campaign coffers as of July 2025, according to his campaign.
The two leading Republicans hoping to oust Abbott in the primary are retired U.S. Army surgeon Pete Chambers and law enforcement officer Ronnie Tullos.
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The Democratic side of the ticket is a crowded one, including former Rep. Chris Bell, Houston businessman Andrew White, rancher Bobby Cole, and Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa.
The GOP primary is scheduled to take place on March 3.
