Republicans are taking action to crack down on illegal border crossings by introducing a new bill in Congress. The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act aims to make it a criminal offense to evade law enforcement officers, particularly during their duties.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas, along with several Senate cosponsors, and U.S. Reps. Juan Ciscomani from Arizona and Monica De La Cruz from Texas, are behind this initiative.
The bill is named in honor of Texas Border Patrol agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr. Tragically, he lost his life on December 7, 2022, while chasing a group of individuals who illegally crossed the border and tried to escape capture. Gonzalez died in a high-speed ATV pursuit near Mission, Texas.
Since President Biden took office, over 14 million foreign nationals have crossed into the United States illegally, including more than two million who evaded capture.
According to The Center Square, this alarming trend is what prompted the introduction of this bill. “This legislation honors the sacrifice of Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who lost his life pursuing individuals evading capture,” Cruz stated.
The proposed legislation would amend U.S. law to impose criminal and immigration penalties on those fleeing from law enforcement officers.
The crime must occur within 100 miles of the U.S. border and applies to Border Patrol and any federal, state, or local law enforcement officers assisting them. Those who flee could face up to two years in prison.
If the act of fleeing results in serious injury to law enforcement officers, the penalties could increase to five to 20 years behind bars.
Should a law enforcement officer lose their life during the pursuit, the penalty escalates to life imprisonment. This bill also proposes amendments to the Immigration Nationality Act to make fleeing a deportable offense.
The bill declares that individuals who try to evade arrest at the border will be deemed inadmissible and ineligible for asylum. It also includes provisions requiring the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to report on the matter. ”
Agent Gonzalez’s sacrifice is a stark reminder of the dangers our Border Patrol agents face daily,” De La Cruz stated. De La Cruz, representing the Rio Grande Valley where Gonzalez lived, expects the bill to pass in the Senate and be signed into law.
She emphasized the importance of holding those accountable who endanger law enforcement lives. “I look forward to seeing this critical legislation become law as part of our broader effort to restore safety and order at our southern border,” she added.
Previously, the bill passed in the House but stalled in the Senate. Cruz had also introduced the bill before. De La Cruz highlighted the importance of passing legislation to protect those who work tirelessly to protect the nation.
Agent Gonzalez, who started his service on August 1, 2011, as part of the Border Patrol Academy’s 980th session, was assigned to the McAllen Station in the CBP Rio Grande Valley Sector. He left behind his parents, brother, and two children. In his memory, De La Cruz, Cruz, and U.S. Sen. Cornyn filed a bill to rename a post office in his honor.
In 2023, the post office at 620 E. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen was renamed as the Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office.
This gesture serves as a tribute to his dedication and sacrifice. The community continues to remember his service and commitment to safeguarding the borders.
