Ken Paxton discusses immigration, Adam Hoffman case in Fort Worth interview

The Texas attorney general also signaled openness to some guest-worker programs as he campaigns for U.S. Senate.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton discussed immigration policy and defended his office’s handling of a controversial sexual abuse case during a rare interview Monday in Fort Worth as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate against Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico.

Paxton has not agreed to a debate with Talarico. The two candidates instead are appearing separately before the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, with Paxton speaking in Fort Worth and Talarico scheduled to speak Wednesday in the Rio Grande Valley.

U.S. Hispanic Business Council President Javier Palomarez asked Paxton about his upbringing, several policy issues, and his actions as attorney general.

On immigration, Paxton said he was open to supporting the idea of a guest-worker program that would allow immigrants to make short-term visits to work in industries including construction, health care, and agriculture.

“We need to have a policy that benefits Americans that are here,” Paxton said.

When asked whether he would explore work authorization programs, Paxton said border security would be a condition.

“I'm open to having help. We need help, but let's do it the right way.”

When asked, “So you would at least explore work authorization programs that would help that balance?” Paxton responded, “Yeah, as long as we have a secure border.”

Paxton also addressed the controversial case of Adam Hoffman. Paxton’s office offered a plea deal to Hoffman, who was accused of sexual abuse, resulting in his early release.

Paxton told the crowd Monday that the best evidence his office had was the testimony of the child victim. After a hung jury in the first trial, Paxton said, the child recanted some of the story and did not want to testify again.

Paxton said his staff has to make difficult decisions in rare cases and defended the decision as one intended to protect the child.

“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. So it's so dishonest to present it any other way because that's actually what happened,” Paxton said.

Democratic state Rep. Ramon Romero of Fort Worth was in the audience. Romero said he wanted to hear more and, above all, wanted to see Paxton and Talarico debate.

“I really wish that it would have been James Tallarico 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,” Romero said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.