McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The National Border Patrol Council has endorsed the reelection of Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who has made state lands available for border wall construction and deportation of migrants.
Buckingham, a Republican, on Thursday announced that the council — which is the union representing over 18,000 Border Patrol agents and personnel — were backing her campaign.
Buckingham was sworn in on Jan. 10, 2023, as the first female land commissioner in the state’s history.
She is a strong supporter of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump. In December, she appeared on “Dr. Phil Primetime” with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan to discuss the president’s mass deportation plans.
She has pushed for state lands to be used for border wall construction, as well as offered state lands to the federal government for use with deportation proceedings and immigrant arrest holdings.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the National Border Patrol Council,” Buckingham said in a statement Thursday. “Our brave Border Patrol agents are on the front lines every day, working to keep Texas communities safe. I will never stop fighting to ensure we have the resources, policies, and leadership needed to support their work from the state level and to keep our border secure.”
“I am proud of the work we’ve done together with our State and Federal partners and look forward to continuing to support our Border Patrol agents, however I can, in the years ahead!” she posted on X.
Buckingham visited rural Starr County when a 1.3-mile segment of border wall built on Texas General Land Office lands outside Rio Grande City was completed in November.
At the time, she told Border Report the land had been previously used by Mexican drug smugglers and cartels. She also said it is the location where women and children were sexually assaulted.
She is a medical doctor who served as a Texas state senator representing Travis County, which includes Austin.
So far it appears Buckingham doesn’t have any opponents. The filing deadline to run in the March 2026 primary election is Dec. 8.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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