Border Patrol union endorses Mazi Pilip in race to replace George Santos
The union representing 18,000 Border Patrol agents endorsed Republican Mazi Pilip on Wednesday ahead of next week’s special House election to replace expelled Rep. George Santos.
The endorsement of Pilip by the National Border Patrol Council comes as the migrant crisis has become a top concern of constituents in the Third Congressional District, which covers Nassau County and parts of northern Queens.
Pilip, 47, is facing off against former three-term Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi, 61.
Union leaders announced their support of Pilip outside a massive migrant encampment on the grounds of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens.
“The sanctuary city policies of Tom Suozzi and the Biden administration still encourage thousands of migrants to cross the border each day, and we need a representative in Congress who will prioritize securing the border, allocating the proper resources, and resuming construction of the wall, all things Mazi supports,” National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd said in a statement.
“Mazi will be a powerful voice in Congress for securing our southern border, supporting and funding law enforcement, and putting the safety of local families first,” Judd added.
Judd told reporters Wednesday his union “very rarely” endorses in congressional races, but “it was very obvious from the get-go that [Pilip] was the right person for the National Border Patrol Council.”
“So we decided to jump into this race because we thought it was very important,” he went on.
The endorsement was made on the same day the US Senate blocked a supplemental spending bill that set aside $20 billion for border security after objections from conservative Republicans that it did not crack down enough on illegal immigration.
Suozzi, who represented the Third District in Congress for six years, had backed the bill while Pilip, a Nassau County legislator, opposed the measure, saying it would allow thousands of migrants to cross the border illegally every day.
Ironically, the National Border Patrol Council had tepidly endorsed the legislation, saying it was “far better than the status quo.”
Still, Judd said he preferred Pilip over Suozzi, claiming the Democrat had an abysmal record on border security over his time in Congress.
“His record is what allows this to happen,” Judd said of Suozzi, gesturing to 20 migrants loitering outside the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center migrant shelter.
Read more of The Post’s coverage on the special election to replace George Santos:
- Mazi Pilip, Tom Suozzi stump on final day of early voting in race to replace George Santos in Congress
- Republican known for political upset predicts another shocker in Suozzi-Pilip race for George Santos’ seat
- Mazi Pilip warns voters not to buy Tom Suozzi’s moderate claims: ‘This is part of his game’
- Mazi Pilip scores police union backing ahead of tight House special election to replace George Santos
- Mazi Pilip, Tom Suozzi clash over abortion, border during first debate in race for George Santos’ House seat
“His record is what invites so many people to come to New York City.”
“Throughout my time as an elected official, I have consistently stood with law enforcement, and I’m running for Congress to slam the door on the extreme policies of Tom Suozzi and Joe Biden and secure our borders,” Pilip said.
“The endorsement of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents the brave men and women who protect our border, further shows that I am the only candidate in this race who is capable of cleaning up the havoc and chaos that the Tom Suozzi/Joe Biden national border crisis has brought to New York.”
During a Zoom press conference Wednesday, Suozzi dismissed the Border Patrol union’s endorsement of Pilip, saying, “The head of the Border Patrol union is a close friend of President Trump … It’s obviously a political deal with the Trumpers and right wing.”
The former lawmaker added that the endorsement was “completely illogical” and “doesn’t make any sense” based on the union’s backing of the doomed Senate border bill.