Bo French, a prominent candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, called for the mass deportation of 100 million people during a high-profile appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday. The demand, which targets nearly one-third of the U.S. population, marks a significant escalation in nationalist rhetoric within the Republican party.
Unprecedented Deportation Demands
French, the former chair of the Tarrant County GOP, issued the remarks during a panel titled “Don’t Sharia My Texas.” He argued that the United States must remove “foreigners” who he claims do not share American values or intend to assimilate.
“We have roughly 100 million people in this country who shouldn’t be here,” French told the cheering crowd at the Gaylord Texan Resort. “We’re going to send them all home.”
The figure cited by French far exceeds traditional estimates of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., suggesting a policy that would target legal residents and naturalized citizens. French later boasted on social media that he was the “first elected official” to call for such a massive removal, claiming he had successfully shifted the “Overton Window” regarding immigration policy.
Direct Attacks on Islam
The candidate’s rhetoric focused heavily on religious exclusion. French explicitly targeted Islam, moving beyond standard critiques of Sharia law to condemn the faith itself.
- Religious Bans: French called for banning the Islamic call to prayer.
- Cultural Exclusion: He claimed that immigration since 1965 has introduced cultures that “do not align with America.”
- Political Framing: He characterized the presence of Muslim communities in Texas as an “invasion” intended to conquer the state and the nation.
Political Context and Primary Runoff
French is currently campaigning for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, the powerful agency that regulates the state’s massive oil and gas industry. He faces incumbent Jim Wright in a Republican primary runoff scheduled for May 26, 2026.
His comments align with a broader legislative push in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott recently designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization—a move CAIR is currently challenging in court. Additionally, state Republicans recently formed the “Sharia Free Texas Caucus.”
A History of Controversy
This is not the first time French has drawn fire for inflammatory language. In late 2024, he faced internal GOP criticism for using homophobic and ableist slurs on X (formerly Twitter). Despite these controversies, French has maintained a loyal “America First” following, positioning himself as a hardline insurgent against the Republican establishment.
Civil rights advocates, including CAIR, have condemned French’s latest statements as “anti-Muslim hate” rooted in fear and misinformation. Texas is currently home to an estimated 300,000 Muslim residents.
