Tester to Bring National Border Patrol Council President to State of the Union Address

Malta-Resident Brandon Judd Represents more than 18,000 Border Patrol Agents

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that he will bring National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd, of Malta, as his guest to President Donald Trump’s the State of the Union Address.

Tester is taking the lead on bipartisan border security negotiations in the Senate and has worked closely with Judd, who represents nearly 18,000 U.S. Border Patrol Agents along America’s northern and southern borders.

“Brandon Judd has been on the front line securing our border and keeping Montanans safe,” Tester said. “He is a Montana boy who climbed the ranks from an agent on our northern border to the very top of the National Border Patrol Council. Brandon’s input will play a critical role as we work towards a tough, bipartisan solution to a stronger border.”

“For the Border Patrol Agents protecting our borders, Senator Tester is one of the first calls we make in Washington when we need help,” Judd said. “Whether it is ensuring we have adequate manpower or the equipment we need to do our job he has been there for us more times than I can count. I especially want to thank him for inviting me to the State of the Union. It is truly an honor and one that I was not expecting.”

Judd is a 20 year veteran of the Border Patrol and has been stationed in California, Arizona, Maine, and Montana. He is currently resides in Malta, Montana.

The National Border Patrol Council has endorsed many of the provisions that Tester is pushing for in a bipartisan border security agreement, including hiring additional manpower, deploying new technologies, and upgrading port facilities along the northern and southern border.

Tester met this week multiple times with a bipartisan group of Senators to build a border security plan, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen.

Tester is the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which sets funding levels for security and law enforcement along the northern and southern borders.

The State of the Union Address will take place on Tuesday, January 30.