Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sat down with the U.S. Hispanic Business Council in Fort Worth on Monday to discuss his immigration stance and the controversial Adam Hoffman case while campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
Immigration outlook
When asked about immigration policy, Paxton said he is “open to supporting the idea of a guest‑worker program” that would let immigrants work temporarily in sectors such as construction, health care and agriculture. He stressed that any program must first secure the border.
“We need to have a policy that benefits Americans that are here,” Paxton said. He added, “I’m open to having help. We need help, but let’s do it the right way. Yeah, as long as we have a secure border.”
Adam Hoffman plea deal
Paxton also addressed the high‑profile Adam Hoffman case, in which his office offered a plea agreement that resulted in the defendant’s early release. The Attorney General explained that the strongest evidence his office possessed was the testimony of the child victim. After a hung jury in the first trial, the child recanted parts of the story and declined to testify again.
“We decided, you know what, we need to protect this kid. It’s more important to make sure that this kid is protected than to get the verdict that we actually want,” Paxton said. He framed the decision as a difficult but necessary choice to prioritize the child’s safety over a courtroom outcome.
Campaign context
Paxton has not agreed to a debate with Talarico. Both candidates are appearing separately before the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, with Paxton speaking in Fort Worth and Talarico slated to address the council in the Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday.
Democratic state Rep. Ramon Romero of Fort Worth was in the audience and urged a joint debate, saying, “I really wish that it would have been James Talarico and the general together on a stage to see that. I know I speak for myself, but I speak for all Texans that we really wanna see a debate.”
Local reaction
The interview highlighted Paxton’s willingness to entertain immigration reforms that protect American workers while also safeguarding the border, a message aimed at Texas’s business community. His defense of the Hoffman plea deal underscored his office’s focus on child protection, a point that resonated with some audience members but drew criticism from Democratic officials who questioned the leniency of the agreement.
As the Senate race intensifies, Paxton’s Fort Worth remarks provide a clear view of his policy priorities: a pragmatic approach to immigration that couples labor needs with security, and a child‑first stance in criminal prosecutions.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
