During a 2019 interview following a visit to border enforcement facilities, James Talarico, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, expressed strong concerns about the conditions in which immigrants were being held. He said he judged the suitability of detention centers by whether he would allow his own family members to be held there, concluding with a “resounding no.”

"I think I was struck by the conditions these folks were being held in," Talarico said. "When I first walked in, I looked at one of the security monitors and saw these things strewn around the floor, and I realized they were human beings being held in these tiny rooms. The standard I use is: would I allow my child, my parent, my grandparent to be held in one of these facilities? And the answer, after my visit, was a resounding no."

Talarico also questioned the allocation of border security funds, stating, "How are we spending close to a billion dollars every year on border security when these border patrol agents told us firsthand they didn’t have the resources, basic logistical items that would help the situation better for them and for the people being held?" Texas spent approximately $800 million on border security in 2019, according to the state’s legislative budget board.

His campaign spokesperson emphasized that Talarico aims to keep the country safe by focusing on deporting criminals rather than detaining families and small business owners who contribute to the economy.

However, Talarico’s comments have drawn criticism from Republican opponents. Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC), accused Talarico of siding with criminal elements and slandering law enforcement, referencing detentions highlighted by the Department of Homeland Security. Kraft stated, "There is a very concerning pattern with James Talarico siding with pedophiles, criminal illegal aliens and cartels while slandering the brave men and women of law enforcement who keep Texans safe."

Talarico’s past remarks have left some observers believing his record supports his candidacy, though his stance has also been described by critics as radical, including commitments to defunding the police and opposing President Donald Trump’s border wall.

Sources