A clip from 2019 featuring James Talarico calling former President Barack Obama the “Deporter in Chief” is circulating again. This resurgence is particularly significant for the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, as it comes just days after he and Obama were seen smiling together at a taco restaurant in Austin.
Thank you for lunch, @BarackObama! pic.twitter.com/qoZlhy4pKC
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) May 13, 2026
In the 2019 video, reposted by Bobby LaValley (@Bobby_LaVallley), RNC communicator, Talarico calls Obama the “Deporter in Chief” and blasts his administration’s policy for expanding drone strikes overseas.
Texas Democrat James Talarico on Barack Obama in 2019:
"President Obama earned the title 'deporter in chief' from immigration rights activists and aggressively expanded drone airstrikes across the world." pic.twitter.com/cCPuNc2bdb
— Bobby LaValley (@Bobby_LaVallley) March 5, 2026
“President Obama earned the title ‘Deporter in Chief’ from immigration rights activists and aggressively expanded drone airstrikes across the world,” Talarico said in the video.
Notably, the comments landed in the same year Talarico aligned his message with the United We Dream group – an organization that advocates for abolishing both ICE and Customs and Border Protection – and consistently shares guidelines urging illegal aliens to “fight back” against deportation, per Fox News.
“Don’t be fooled by the vegetarian taco summit, James Talarico has been very clear that Obama was too strong on the border for his liking. James won’t rest until there is a welcome mat on the southern border, unlimited illegal immigration, and 100% of Texans’ tax dollars fund luxurious lifestyles for illegal immigrants,” RNC Spokesperson Zack Kraft told The Dallas Express.
Talarico’s immigration record gives the RNC plenty to work with, along with his prior comments against Obama’s immigration policies. Talarico spearheaded a stop-ICE rally calling on supporters to “stand up and fight back” back in January, and has publicly referred to ICE as a “secret police force,” adding that the agency should be “torn down.”
During a January 2026 primary debate, Talarico repeated his now-familiar border tagline, saying, “There should be a giant welcome mat out front and a lock on the door,” language that still appears on his own campaign website.
However, during a February campaign stop outside Camp East Montana in El Paso, Talarico called for his own comprehensive immigration reform, saying the country can welcome immigrants who want to contribute while keeping out “folks who want to do us harm.” He also tried to balance that statement by describing current federal enforcement tactics as “extremism,” per El Paso Matters News.
Talarico Team’s Response To The Dallas Express
Campaign Spokesperson, JT Ennis, provided a statement to The Dallas Express regarding the prior jabs at Obama’s immigration policy, reading as follows:
“James believes we need more secure borders – it’s why he’s called for more border patrol agents and authored legislation to fund millions of dollars in border security, including new technology to crack down on illegal crossings at our ports of entry. Both parties have failed us on the issue of immigration, so James is running for Senate to keep our country safe by deporting criminals instead of hunting down moms, babies, and small business owners who have been contributing to our economy for decades.”
