Trump heads for the border

Donald Trump is coming to Laredo on Thursday. That should not be as surprising as it sounds.

The Laredo chapter of the Border Patrol agents’ union is very well-connected politically. Chapter leaders have hosted a series of border-hawk conservative candidates and Tea Party members for tours.

If Trump’s tour is like the others, he will meet some long-serving and hard-working Border Patrol agents and then hear how tough their job is and how Congress should do more and spend more to limit immigration.

He will come away with days of free news coverage and months’ worth of video for future campaign commercials. Imagine video of Trump glaring menacingly across the Rio Grande. Now imagine that video showing up in TV commercials in early primary states far from the border.

In exchange, he will give a speech encouraging the border agents. On Trump’s Facebook page, he posted, “I’m going to the border tomorrow. Will be seeing some really brave people.”

It is laudable for any candidate to visit the border and praise the overburdened agents there. He also should visit the immigration courts and see the caseload that forces federal officials to set priorities.

This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Trump heads for the border."