Donald Trump claimed to be endorsed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the first presidential debate, held on Sept. 26. However, federal agencies do not endorse candidates, and it was actually the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, a union representing thousands of immigration officers and staff, that pledged its support behind the GOP nominee.
In a written statement posted the same day as the debate, National ICE Council President Chris Crane said that Clinton secured only 5 percent of the union’s popular vote on who to endorse, and that the organization opposes what he calls her plan of “total amnesty plus open borders.”
Trump, meanwhile, has called for the construction of a wall between Mexico and the United States, as well as many hard-line measures.
“In his immigration policy, he has outlined core policies needed to restore immigration security — including support for increased interior enforcement and border security, an end to Sanctuary Cities, an end to catch-and-release, mandatory detainers and the canceling of executive amnesty and non-enforcement directives,” the National ICE Council statement said.
In addition to the National ICE Council, the National Border Patrol Council union has also offered its endorsement of Trump. Both have applauded Trump’s pushing immigration and border security above other issues.
