Texas GOP Candidate: Media's Silence on American Deaths is 'Racist'

A Texas Republican candidate has accused mainstream media of being “racist” for its focus on the deaths of undocumented immigrants during immigration enforcement operations while largely ignoring the deaths of American citizens caused by migrants. Bo French, a pro-American GOP candidate running for the Texas Railroad Commissioner, a position with significant influence over state infrastructure, posted a social media message highlighting the discrepancy in media coverage. French’s post included images of 52 Americans who he claims were killed by undocumented immigrants, accompanied by a statement accusing the media and Democratic lawmakers of failing to show outrage over the deaths. He wrote: “The media and democrats showed zero outrage over these senseless deaths but they are in overdrive trying to convince you that removing illegals, which is dangerous work, is racist. Screw their feelings. Remove them all!” The disparity in coverage became evident this month after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved in two fatal incidents during traffic stops involving undocumented immigrants. These events led to widespread media attention, with numerous headlines downplaying or omitting the illegal status of the victims. For instance, reports described the incidents as “ICE officer shot and killed a motorist in Maine” and “ICE-involved shooting leaves one person dead in Maine.” Some stories emphasized the emotional impact on the families of the deceased migrants, including quotes from relatives expressing grief and loss. In contrast, the death of six-year-old Calli Toler, who was killed in a collision involving an undocumented immigrant, received minimal coverage in major national outlets. However, the incident was highlighted by Breitbart News. According to local authorities, Jaime Santiago Corona, a 33-year-old undocumented immigrant, was arrested by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office and charged with several offenses following the crash. On July 3, Kelli Toler, 35, was killed along with her son Colton, 4, in a collision with Corona’s vehicle. Calli, who loved to dance, was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members and friends have since launched fundraising efforts to assist Kelli’s husband, Quentin, with funeral expenses. A Facebook post shared by the family noted: “Calli loved to dance. Family and friends are now raising money for Kelli and her husband, Quentin, to help offset funeral costs.” The contrast in how the media has treated the deaths of American citizens versus undocumented immigrants has sparked discussions among some Americans. While there is no official tally of the number of Americans killed by undocumented individuals, volunteer groups have documented at least 1,200 such cases over recent years. These fatalities occurred due to a variety of causes, including attacks with weapons, vehicles, and other means. Similarly, there is no official record of the number of undocumented immigrants who have perished attempting to cross into the United States. Many have died in remote areas such as jungles, rivers, mountains, and deserts while seeking entry under former President Joe Biden’s policies promoting open borders. Some officials from Donald Trump’s administration have criticized the media’s approach to immigration-related issues. In January 2026, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, condemned Democratic activists in Minneapolis for opposing immigration enforcement, asking: “Where were they the last four years when the number of women [and] children [being] sex trafficked was an all-time high? Where were they when a quarter-million Americans died from fentanyl coming across the border? Where were they when women and children were dying making that journey?”