A county official from South Texas recently said she is switching her party affiliation because of the ongoing border crisis.
Kleberg County Attorney Kira Talip Sanchez made the announcement at a 2024 election season kickoff event put on by the Hispanic Republicans of Texas PAC, telling attendees she will register as a Republican, Fox News reported.
Sanchez currently oversees Kleberg County’s specialized crimes and narcotics task force. She has served as county attorney since being elected to the post in 2014.
While discussing her decision at the event on August 19, Sanchez said the situation at the border played a major factor.
“As County Attorney, I have been proud to work with law enforcement to ensure the safety of the citizens of Kleberg County. There is an unprecedented crisis at our Southern Border. I believe that the GOP’s policies … best align with my values and the values of the citizens of Kleberg County. I look forward to working with my colleagues to keep South Texas safe,” Sanchez said, according to a tweet by Hispanic Republicans of Texas (HRT).
Sanchez was joined by HRT President Cassy Garcia and Chairman George Antuna at the event.
“Voters and even candidates are switching to the Republican [P]arty because Democrats no longer serve their interests,” Garcia claimed, per HRT.
Before announcing her party switch, Sanchez said she was “nervous to be called a traitor” for her decision.
“As a Hispanic, we were told, you know, ‘Hispanics are Democrats,’ and that is not really the case. I feel like a lot of Hispanic Americans are Republican, and they don’t even know it,” she said in an interview on Fox & Friends.
The ongoing crisis at the border has been a major issue of concern for officials across Texas and other parts of the country, with Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest border-control efforts taking center stage.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Abbott installed buoys along parts of the Rio Grande River to deter migrants from entering the country unlawfully. However, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the governor, arguing he was flouting federal law by not obtaining federal authorization.
“This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns. Additionally, the presence of the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and risks damaging U.S. foreign policy,” claimed Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, per a DOJ press release.
Abbott said he is willing to go all the way to the Supreme Court to fight the lawsuit if necessary.
“I believe that the constitutional right of the state of Texas to secure our border and to defend our sovereignty supersedes any statute,” said the governor at a bill signing ceremony earlier in August.
