U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a moderate Democrat from Laredo, publicly broke with his party’s Senate nominee on Saturday, criticizing the idea that the southern border should feature a “giant welcome mat” for migrants.
Appearing on “Saturday in America” with host Kayleigh McEnany, Cuellar responded to recent comments made by State Representative James Talarico. Talarico, who secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate following Tuesday’s primary, had previously suggested during a January debate that the border should function like a “front porch” with a lock on the door but a welcome mat out front.
“No, of course I don’t,” Cuellar said when asked if he agreed with that vision. “I hope I spend some time with him and get him to change the situation at the border. And I live at the border, I just don’t go visit the border.”
Cuellar, who represents a district that is 75% Hispanic and was carried by President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, emphasized a need for “law and order” while maintaining respect for legal immigration. He referenced his own family history, noting that his father immigrated from Mexico and became a naturalized citizen “the right way.”
The congressman’s remarks come during a period of heightened tension over border security and agency funding. During the interview, McEnany pointed to a recent shooting at an Austin bar involving a naturalized citizen and asked Cuellar about his recent vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Cuellar was one of only four Democrats—alongside Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Jared Golden, and Don Davis—who voted with Republicans this week to fund the DHS and end a partial government shutdown. All four lawmakers represent districts won by Trump in 2024.
“We cannot have the Department of Homeland Security not be funded at this time,” Cuellar said. While he acknowledged that some in his party want stricter oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he argued that the “big picture” of national safety must take priority over partisan disagreements.
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