🚨 Senator Gallego Praises Trump's Border Policies: "Give Credit to President Trump" on Immigration | BUCKMASTER SHOW

How Arizona's new senator betrayed immigrant communities within weeks of taking office, five-pillar plan sounds awfully familiar to failed past approaches

May 22, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

A senator from Arizona named Ruben Gallego went on a radio show and said some surprising things. Even though he promised during his election campaign that he would help immigrant families, he actually praised the current president's tough border policies that many people think are unfair. He also supported a new law that could make life harder for immigrants. At the same time, a military general named Kerry Muelenbeck was also on the show, and she showed what real leadership looks like by talking about doing your best job no matter what, instead of just saying things to make people happy. This shows why it's important to pay attention to what politicians actually do, not just what they say during campaigns.

🗝️ Takeaways

🚩 Gallego praised Trump's border enforcement despite campaigning as an immigration advocate
📜 Co-sponsored the punitive Laken Riley Act within his first week in the Senate
🔄 His "five-pillar framework" prioritizes border security over human rights
💪 General Muelenbeck exemplified authentic leadership through service, not politics
🎯 Politicians using "border security first" language historically delay meaningful reform
⚠️ Gallego's shift represents a broader trend of Democrats adopting Republican framing
🏃‍♀️ Grassroots organizing remains essential when politicians break promises

Get 7 day free trial

When "Progressives" Praise Trump: Gallego's Troubling Border Pivot on the Buckmaster Show

On May 21st, 2025, Ted Maxwell guest-hosted the Buckmaster Show while Bill Buckmaster vacationed in Hawaii. The show featured two guests whose appearances revealed much about the current political landscape: newly elected US Senator Ruben Gallego and retiring Major General Kerry Muehlenbeck.

But it was Gallego's comments that should alarm anyone who believed his campaign promises about standing with immigrant communities.

Gallego's Concerning Praise for Trump's Border Policies

In a moment that likely made immigration advocates across Arizona do a double-take, Senator Gallego actually praised Donald Trump's border enforcement efforts.

"What we do see is all the time low at the border, and to give credit to President Trump, that has been a good accomplishment," Gallego told host Ted Maxwell.

Really, Ruben? This is the same Trump whose policies separated families and whose administration you criticized just months ago during your Senate campaign?

This stunning pivot becomes even more troubling when viewed alongside Gallego's early Senate actions. Within his first week in office, the senator co-sponsored the "Laken Riley Act" – legislation that would mandate detention of undocumented immigrants charged with certain crimes, even before conviction. The bill, named after a Georgia nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant, represents exactly the kind of knee-jerk, punitive approach that immigrant rights activists have long opposed.

For someone who comes from an immigrant family, “the proud son of immigrants,” and campaigned on comprehensive immigration reform, this feels like a betrayal of the communities that helped elect him.

The Five-Pillar Framework: Reform or Repackaged Enforcement?

Gallego presented what he calls a "five-pillar framework" for immigration reform, which he described as a step-by-step approach designed to build "bipartisan trust." However, scratch beneath the surface, his framework looks suspiciously like every other "border security first" proposal that has emerged from Washington over the past two decades.

"We can't really move forward with anything until we do have a secure border," Gallego emphasized, echoing Republican talking points that have been used to delay meaningful immigration reform for years. How many times have we heard this same song and dance? Secure the border first, they say, and then we'll talk about the 11 million people living in the shadows. Except somehow, the border is never quite secure enough.

The senator's plan does include some positive elements – pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and spouses of US citizens, guest worker programs, and asylum system reforms. But these are wrapped in enforcement-heavy language that prioritizes border militarization over human dignity.

"I fear it's not necessarily sustainable by how much it's costing, but let's work on that, right?" Gallego said about Trump's current border approach. So the problem isn't the human rights violations or family separations – it's the price tag?

The Politics of "Pragmatism"

Gallego defended his approach as necessary for building public trust, arguing that Democrats must prove they support border security before advancing other reforms.

"In order for us to really get immigration reform, we first have to have people trust that their elected officials do believe in a secure border," he explained.

This represents a familiar pattern among Democratic politicians who believe that moving rightward on immigration will somehow unlock Republican cooperation. Spoiler alert: it never does. Republicans will just move the goalposts further right, and communities will continue to suffer while politicians play these games.

The senator's comments about asylum seekers were particularly concerning:

"The asylum system has been consistently abused by people from all over the world, and not just from Mexico, not just Latin America."

This language mirrors conservative framing that treats asylum-seeking as inherently suspicious rather than a fundamental human right.

When Democrats start using the word "abuse" to describe people fleeing violence and persecution, we've already lost the narrative battle.

A Stark Contrast: General Muelenbeck's Authentic Leadership

In contrast to Gallego's political calculations, Major General Kerry Muehlenbeck's interview provided a refreshing example of authentic leadership. Arizona's first female adjutant general, Muehlenbeck, broke barriers through political maneuvering and consistent excellence and dedication.

Muehlenbeck's rise through the ranks was "very non-traditional" – she never commanded squadrons, groups, or wings, the typical stepping stones to senior leadership. Instead, she excelled in each role, ultimately leading Arizona's National Guard and emergency management operations through critical challenges, including the COVID-19 response.

When asked about being the first female adjutant general, Muehlenbeck deflected: "I always shy away from that because I hope that's not why I was picked... I didn't have control over becoming a female. That my mom and dad did that."

Her most cherished military memory came early in her career when she first announced herself in court as "Lieutenant Kerry Muehlenbeck on behalf of the United States of America." That moment captured something Gallego seems to have forgotten – the honor and responsibility that comes with serving something greater than political self-interest.

The Broader Implications

Gallego's rightward shift on immigration reflects a troubling trend among Democratic politicians who believe that adopting Republican framing will somehow make them more electable or effective. However, this strategy ignores the lived experiences of immigrant communities who trusted these leaders with their votes.

How do you explain to a Dreamer that their senator – who campaigned on their behalf – is now co-sponsoring legislation that could lead to more deportations? How do you tell asylum-seeking families that their "advocate" now views their legal claims as potential "abuse" of the system?

The senator's praise for Trump's border policies is particularly galling given the human cost of those approaches. Family separations, indefinite detention, and the weaponization of immigration enforcement haven't made anyone safer – they've simply inflicted trauma on vulnerable communities.

What This Means for Arizona

For Arizona's immigrant communities, Gallego's pivot represents a betrayal of campaign promises and community trust. During his Senate race, Gallego benefited from strong support among Latino voters and immigration advocates who believed he would champion comprehensive reform.

Instead, they got a politician who praises Trump's enforcement policies and co-sponsors punitive legislation within days of taking office. Meet the new boss—the same as the old boss—just with better Spanish and more convincing campaign ads.

This shift also signals potential challenges for grassroots organizing efforts. When supposedly progressive politicians adopt conservative framing, it becomes harder to build public support for truly humane immigration policies.

If our "allies" are already conceding that the border needs to be "secured" before addressing human needs, how do we argue for an approach that prioritizes dignity over enforcement?

A Note of Hope and Action

Despite these setbacks, the fight for immigrant justice continues. Gallego's betrayal reminds us that real change comes from sustained grassroots pressure, not politician promises.

Organizations across Arizona continue to support immigrant families, document human rights abuses, and advocate for policies that prioritize humanity over enforcement. Groups like the ACLU of Arizona, Puente Arizona, and Aliento continue to support communities while holding politicians accountable.

The power to create change doesn't rest with senators who praise Trump or politicians who co-sponsor harmful legislation. It rests with organized communities who refuse to accept "pragmatic" betrayals as the price of political participation.

Now more than ever, we need independent media that holds politicians accountable regardless of party affiliation. Corporate media outlets won't challenge Democrats when they adopt Republican talking points – that's where outlets like Three Sonorans come in.

Get 25% off for 1 year

Support independent journalism that tells the truth about Arizona politics, immigration policy, and the real impact of political decisions on working families. Subscribe to Three Sonorans Substack to keep this critical analysis coming, and help us continue holding politicians accountable to the communities they claim to serve.

Your Voice Matters

What are your thoughts on Gallego's rightward shift on immigration? How should immigrant communities and their allies respond when politicians break campaign promises? Have you seen the impact of these policy discussions in your own community?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Your voice and experience matter in these crucial conversations about Arizona's future.

Quotes:

Ruben Gallego on Trump: "What we do see is all the time low at the border, and to give credit to President Trump, that has been a good accomplishment" - Praising policies he previously criticized
Gallego on border security: "We can't really move forward with anything until we do have a secure border," - Echoing GOP talking points that delay reform
Gallego on asylum: "The asylum system has been consistently abused by people from all over the world" - Using conservative framing about asylum seekers
Kerry Muehlenbeck on identity: "I always shy away from that because I hope that's not why I was picked... I didn't have control over becoming a female" - Deflecting focus to qualifications over identity
Muehlenbeck's cherished memory: "Lieutenant Kerry Muelenbeck on behalf of the United States of America" - First time announcing herself in military court
Muehlenbeck on failure: "Sometimes you're going to make mistakes and sometimes you will fail... I think it's the failures that taught me more" - Leadership philosophy on growth through setbacks

All People Mentioned:

Ted Maxwell - Guest host sitting in for Buckmaster. "I greatly appreciate your time today. I appreciate you joining us on the Buckmaster Show."
Bill Buckmaster - Show host, vacationing in Hawaii. Called in from Hawaii: "I've been over in the lovely Hawaiian Islands."
Ruben Gallego - US Senator from Arizona, Marine veteran "We can't really move forward with anything until we do have a secure border."
Kerry Muehlenbeck - Retiring Major General, Arizona's first female adjutant general. "Do your best. Don't worry about anything else."
Governor Ducey - Former Arizona governor who appointed Muelenbeck. Mentioned as appointing Muehlenbeck in 2021
General McGuire - Muelenbeck's predecessor as adjutant general, put Muehlenbeck in charge of the Joint Task Force, "a very non-traditional" appointment
Donald Trump - Current President, praised by Gallego for border policies. Gallego: "Give credit to President Trump, that has been a good accomplishment."
Barack Obama - Former President Buckmaster mentioned seeing "former President Obama's new beach house" in Hawaii
Mayor Romero - Tucson mayor, scheduled for upcoming Buckmaster interview. Buckmaster: planned interview about "trip over to the Middle Eastern kingdom of Qatar"