Donald Trump tour: Border patrol agents pull out as tycoon heads to the US-Mexico border

Trump was due meet members of the union on Thursday

A union representing border patrol agents has pulled out of Donald Trump’s campaign tour hours before the business tycoon was due to head south to the US-Mexico border.

Trump has been embroiled in a number of controversies in the weeks since he launched his presidential bid, but his first statement claiming Mexican immigrants were criminals and rapists has proved more consequential than his many other contentious claims.

On Thursday, Trump felt the repercussions of his statement once again when the Texas union announced its decision to back out of any future events involving him.

"After careful consideration of all of the factors involved in this event ... it has been decided by Local 2455 to pull out of all events involving Donald Trump," the union said in a statement given to CNN.

"Make no mistake, our border with Mexico is not secure and there's no doubt that we need to have an honest discussion about that with the American people."

Major retailers and networks have dropped Trump over his comments, while his opponents have been quick to blast his words and actions. But negative attention has done little to damage his showing in the polls and he now has a double-digit lead over the other Republican contenders.

Trump is expected to continue his journey to the border as normal.