James Talarico

My family's been here since it was Mexico.

My mom is from Laredo, Texas on our southern border.

Shout out Laredo.

And I think Texans understand immigration better than most people around the country because we live with it every day, both the benefits and the challenges.

I think most Texans, most Americans are actually on the same page when it comes to immigration.

They are pro-immigrant.

They know this is a nation of immigrants.

They know immigrants contribute to our communities every day.

They make us stronger and richer as they always have throughout American history.

You wouldn't be interviewing a guy with the last name Tallarico if this wasn't a nation of immigrants.

but they're also pro-public safety.

They want an orderly process to know who's coming into this country.

They want to keep out people who mean to do us harm.

And if someone commits a violent crime, they want them deported immediately.

And those are not mutually exclusive goals.

We can and must do both.

Both parties have failed us on this issue for the last three decades.

The American people, the people of this state, are looking for leaders who are going to be pro-immigrant and pro-security.

And the point in that metaphor is that's exactly what we all do at our own homes.

Texans are hospitable.