Bannon Claims Migrant Flood Heading to Border

Steve Bannon says a surge of migrants is already moving toward the southern border as dozens of Hondurans leave for the U.S.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Immigration

Bannon Claims Migrant Flood Heading to Border

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Steve Bannon claimed on his War Room show on Wednesday that a flood of migrants is already heading to the southern border. Dozens of people left Honduras on Tuesday to travel north toward the U.S., the third significant organized movement of Hondurans out of San Pedro Sula since early fall.

Why it matters

The claim comes as U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports nearly 140,000 encounters in fiscal year 2026 and 16 consecutive months of zero releases at the border. Bannon cited news articles about Honduran caravans when asked for evidence, and the movements are reportedly tied to hopes that the midterms would weaken the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

Customs and Border Protection has reported nearly 140,000 encounters in fiscal year 2026 and 16 consecutive months of zero releases at the border. Whether the reported Honduran movements will translate into a larger surge at the border remains unknown.

The players

Steve Bannon

Steve Bannon is a former Trump White House chief strategist and host of the War Room show who frequently comments on immigration.

Gina Hinojosa

Gina Hinojosa is the first-ever Latina governor of Texas, elected in the 2026 midterm elections, and has criticized Governor Greg Abbott's border tactics.

James Talarico

James Talarico is a Texas Democrat who flipped a Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections and has pledged to secure the border while opposing aggressive tactics.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the federal agency responsible for border security and the source of encounter and release statistics.

The details

Dozens of people left Honduras on Tuesday toward the U.S. border, the third significant organized movement from San Pedro Sula since early fall. Bannon made his claim on his War Room show on Wednesday, citing news articles about the caravans when asked by The Independent for evidence. Texas has about 4,000 National Guard members stationed near the border, and Trump previously used the Guard during immigration protests in Los Angeles and to address crime in Washington, D.C.

Early fall 2026: The first of three organized Honduran migrant movements begins.
Tuesday, November 4, 2026: Dozens of Hondurans depart toward the U.S. border.
Wednesday, November 5, 2026: Bannon makes the flood-of-migrants claim on War Room.
January 2026: Hinojosa issues a press release criticizing Abbott's border tactics.
Two years from November 2026: Trump's presidency ends.

Political Context

The Texas National Guard deployment of about 4,000 members extends the precedent set when Trump used the Guard during the Los Angeles immigration protests. Critics argue the approach relies on aggressive tactics, while supporters point to border security as the justification.

Readers in the United States may see continued National Guard presence near the southern border, with Texas holding about 4,000 members there. Border policy changes tied to the midterm outcome could affect enforcement priorities in the coming years.

The takeaway

Claims about migrant surges often rely on reports of organized caravans, so readers should compare them against official Customs and Border Protection encounter data. Tracking both sources offers a clearer picture of what is actually arriving at the border.