The largest union representing US border patrol officers this week (March 30) ditched its longstanding policy of steering clear of endorsing presidential candidates to throw its support behind Republican Donald Trump.

In doing so, the National Border Patrol Council broke with the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US, which has not yet endorsed a candidate but has voiced strong opposition to Trump. The union, which represents some 16,500 officers, has drawn criticism for its decision, including today (April 2) from the El Paso Times editorial board. The decision has also led the #Not1More, a group pushing immigration reform, to pressure the AFL-CIO through a petition to revoke the NBPC’s membership status.

So far, the AFL-CIO has not responded to NBPC’s decision, or calls to remove them from its membership roster.

In its statement of support for Trump, the NBPC noted that the real-estate mogul is the only candidate—in either party—who isn’t a career politician, adding:

There is no greater physical or economic threat to Americans today than our open border. And there is no greater political threat than the control of Washington by special interests. In view of these threats, the National Border Patrol Council endorses Donald J. Trump for President…

The NBPC may have a special interest of its own. One of Trump’s senior policy advisors told Breitbart that the union would have a “direct line” to the White House if Trump were elected.