Hour 2 - Cost of Illegal Immigration 


Author: iHeartPodcasts February 23, 2026 Duration: 36:41
Podcast episode
Hour 2 - Cost of Illegal Immigration 

Hour 2 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show focuses heavily on immigration, cartel violence, national security, and the human cost of illegal immigration, anchored by President Trump’s Angel Families remembrance event at the White House. Buck opens the hour by describing the ceremony honoring families whose loved ones were killed by individuals in the country illegally, highlighting Trump’s commitment to giving these families a national voice despite media outlets and Democratic politicians who routinely downplay or ignore the connection between illegal immigration and violent crime. Buck explains how political rhetoric has shifted from referring to “illegal aliens” to softer, euphemistic terms like “undocumented immigrants,” which he argues is intentional linguistic manipulation designed to weaken border‑security arguments.

Buck plays and analyzes Trump’s remarks, including his criticism of politicians who prioritize the comfort of foreign criminals over the safety of American citizens. Trump tells the families that their pain has been censored and suppressed for political purposes, and Buck emphasizes that mainstream media has long focused exclusively on sympathetic narratives about DREAMers while burying the far more numerous cases involving repeat‑offender illegal immigrants responsible for homicide, DUIs, assaults, and other serious crimes. Buck revisits the longstanding political debate around illegal immigration, arguing that many immigration advocates refuse to admit any downsides at all—and that Trump, unlike his predecessors, is openly confronting the reality of violent crimes committed by those who should not be in the country.

The discussion expands into broader immigration policy history, including failures by both Republican and Democratic administrations, the border surge under Biden, and the strain illegal immigration places on city budgets, social‑service systems, and local communities. Buck points out that Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s relocation of migrants to sanctuary cities effectively exposed the myth that illegal immigrants are an unambiguous benefit, noting how quickly cities like New York and Chicago became overwhelmed when confronted with the consequences of their own pro‑migrant policies.

Midway through the hour, Buck shifts to another major national‑security story: the dramatic takedown of a top Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader known as “El Chopo.” He explains that the U.S. and Mexican governments jointly targeted the cartel boss—who carried a staggering $15 million bounty—and that his killing triggered extreme retaliation across Mexico. Buck walks through the subsequent wave of violence, including torched buses, blocked highways, burning storefronts, and canceled flights as cartel gunmen flooded the streets in Guadalajara and major resort regions. He describes CJNG as one of the most ultraviolent criminal organizations in the world, involved in everything from fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking to extortion, oil theft, and mass murder.

Buck draws parallels between CJNG’s brutality and terrorist networks like ISIS or Al‑Qaeda, arguing that cartels operate as hybrid criminal‑terrorist armies with soldiers, command structures, and paramilitary capabilities. He stresses that their primary revenue stream is fentanyl sold in the United States—and that tens of thousands of Americans die each year as a direct result. He praises the Trump administration’s aggressive posture against cartels, speculating that the U.S. may be preparing to escalate direct action against cartel leadership, including covert strikes similar to counterterrorism operations in Pakistan’s tribal regions. Buck also questions the Mexican government’s willingness or ability to fight the cartels, noting widespread corruption, the cartels’ financial influence, and a political climate that often prioritizes avoiding confrontation.

The hour concludes with listener talk‑backs, including comments about Buck’s book Manufacturing Delusion, frustrations with bookstores burying it, and questions about paperback availability. Buck circles back to America’s Olympic hockey victories, the broader fight against cartels, and Trump’s ongoing national‑security efforts, setting the stage for a busy final hour.

Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8

 

For the latest updates from Clay & Buck, visit our website https://www.clayandbuck.com/

 

Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton: 

X - https://x.com/clayandbuck

FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/

IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck

Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


More episodes

Duration: 17:00
Debra Lea joins Buck for her first appearance on the podcast after f Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. They discuss the administration’s first-year accomplishments, and break down what could be ahead in year two…

Duration: 51:26
Clay Parties with the Men's Hockey Team State of the Union buzz and a culture‑war flashpoint: the Team USA men’s Olympic hockey gold becoming a lightning rod after a celebratory call from President Trump. Clay recounts j…

Duration: 36:42
Hour 1 centers on the State of the Union buzz and a culture‑war flashpoint: the Team USA men’s Olympic hockey gold becoming a lightning rod after a celebratory call from President Trump. Clay opens by previewing the nigh…

Duration: 36:47
Hour 2 opens with Bill O’Reilly joining Clay and Buck to preview President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address. O’Reilly predicts the speech will be long but optimistic, advising Trump to focus on projecting stre…

Duration: 36:54
Hour 3 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show centers on a mix of political anticipation, cultural clashes, sports‑driven patriotism, and lighthearted personal storytelling as the country heads into President Trump’s St…

Duration: 1:00:06
Team USA Buck celebrates Team USA’s historic Olympic triumph in men’s ice hockey, defeating Canada to win the gold medal for the first time since 1980. He plays audio from star player Jack Hughes, whose comments about lo…

Duration: 36:50
Hour 1 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show opens with Buck hosting solo while Clay is out, and the program immediately dives into a packed news cycle. The hour begins with international coverage as Buck explains risi…

Duration: 36:46
Hour 3 opens with Buck Sexton solo‑hosting and hitting rapid‑fire headlines before a deeper dive into law, national security, and 2026 election politics. He leads with a patriotic recap of Team USA’s Olympic men’s hockey…

Logo
Select station
VOL