UFC 208Feb 9, 2017 by Duane Finley
UFC LHW Glover Teixeira Discusses Donald Trump Immigration Policies
UFC LHW Glover Teixeira Discusses Donald Trump Immigration Policies
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Glover Teixeira shares his views on President Donald Trump's immigration policy.
A former illegal immigrant, Glover Teixeira crossed the border between the United States and Mexico in the late 1990s after days of traveling through the desert. And it was there, in his new home, that the Brazilian learned English, got to know martial arts, made fighting his profession and got married, which, after years of "exile" back in Brazil guaranteed him a visa to be able to re-enter the country legally.
Despite his story, though, Teixeira doesn't follow the new U.S. government's efforts to seal up the country's borders too much.
With Donald Trump now leading the way, a wall separating the United States and Mexico seems to become increasingly likely as one part of a series of measures to prevent illegal immigration. This scenario, which has already sparked controversy and diplomatic rifts, will, in the eyes of the Brazilian fighter, not have any effects on anybody on the UFC's roster.
"I think UFC athletes are cool, because Dana White showed Trump support," Teixeira told FloCombat via AG.Fight at UFC 208's official media day. "It's not possible that Trump is going to trash us, the fighters. I don't have much to talk about politics, I don't follow it much. I just hope it's good for the country. I hope this guy is not so... Sometimes he really likes to boss around like he does in his company. I can only hope it's a good government."
When Teixeira crossed the border almost 20 years ago, this way of getting into the US was so common that a whole industry specialized in the transport of illegal immigrants. The Brazilian traveled through Columbia, Guatemala and Mexico by bus before slipping through the cracks at the border at night. Today, the scenario is different and the risk of trying to illegally cross the border is greater. However, Teixeira thinks that if he were young again and had that same foolishness for adventure, he might have tried to conquer Donald Trump's wall.
"There's no way anymore now," Teixeira said. "By the time I came, in 1999, everyone was coming. It was the galley fever. I was 19, nowadays I would not do it. The head thinks differently. For me, it was an adventure, I was 19 years old. Maybe if I were 19 years old today I would come. I wouldn't care, I would dig a hole underneath the wall. But my mindset is different today."
Coming off a knockout defeat to Anthony Johnson in August, Teixeira faces Jared Cannonier this weekend at UFC 208. A decisive win could propel the UFC's third-ranked 205-pounder back into the title picture. In April 2014, Teixeira received his first shot at the belt but was outclassed by then-champion Jon Jones over five rounds.
For FloCombat via AG.Fight
Despite his story, though, Teixeira doesn't follow the new U.S. government's efforts to seal up the country's borders too much.
With Donald Trump now leading the way, a wall separating the United States and Mexico seems to become increasingly likely as one part of a series of measures to prevent illegal immigration. This scenario, which has already sparked controversy and diplomatic rifts, will, in the eyes of the Brazilian fighter, not have any effects on anybody on the UFC's roster.
"I think UFC athletes are cool, because Dana White showed Trump support," Teixeira told FloCombat via AG.Fight at UFC 208's official media day. "It's not possible that Trump is going to trash us, the fighters. I don't have much to talk about politics, I don't follow it much. I just hope it's good for the country. I hope this guy is not so... Sometimes he really likes to boss around like he does in his company. I can only hope it's a good government."
When Teixeira crossed the border almost 20 years ago, this way of getting into the US was so common that a whole industry specialized in the transport of illegal immigrants. The Brazilian traveled through Columbia, Guatemala and Mexico by bus before slipping through the cracks at the border at night. Today, the scenario is different and the risk of trying to illegally cross the border is greater. However, Teixeira thinks that if he were young again and had that same foolishness for adventure, he might have tried to conquer Donald Trump's wall.
"There's no way anymore now," Teixeira said. "By the time I came, in 1999, everyone was coming. It was the galley fever. I was 19, nowadays I would not do it. The head thinks differently. For me, it was an adventure, I was 19 years old. Maybe if I were 19 years old today I would come. I wouldn't care, I would dig a hole underneath the wall. But my mindset is different today."
Coming off a knockout defeat to Anthony Johnson in August, Teixeira faces Jared Cannonier this weekend at UFC 208. A decisive win could propel the UFC's third-ranked 205-pounder back into the title picture. In April 2014, Teixeira received his first shot at the belt but was outclassed by then-champion Jon Jones over five rounds.
For FloCombat via AG.Fight