House Republicans passed legislation Thursday that called for stiff penalties for migrants that try to evade Border Patrol agents by leading them on high-speed car chases.
The House of Representatives voted 264 to 155 in favor of the H.R. 35, more popularly known as the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act. The bill — which was named after a Border Patrol agent killed in the line of duty amid a high-speed vehicle chase — discourages migrants from evading Border Patrol agents by imposing minimum prison sentences and making them deportable. (RELATED: Trump Admin Axes FEMA Employees Behind $59 Million Scheme To Fund ‘Luxury’ Hotel Stays For Migrants)
Individuals who try to flee from Border Patrol agents or any other law enforcement officers helping them via a motorized vehicle would face up to two years in prison, according to the legislation. Should “serious bodily injury” result from such a vehicle pursuit, the minimum sentence would be five years in prison, and ten years to life in prison would be imposed should death result from the chase.
Migrants convicted of admitting to evading border agents while operating a vehicle would be immediately deemed inadmissible into the United States, subject to deportation and ineligible for immigration relief, including asylum.
RUBY, ARIZONA – JUNE 24: Migrants seeking asylum from Central and South America sit in the back of a border patrol vehicle after being apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border protection officers after illegally crossing over into the U.S. on June 24, 2024 in Ruby, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The bill was introduced by Republican Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who represents a border district in the southeastern portion of his state. The GOP-sponsored legislation Thursday wasn’t opposed by any Republican member, and also attracted the support of 50 Democratic lawmakers.
“If you enter this country illegally and then have the audacity to endanger American lives, you must face serious consequences,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “In passing Rep. Ciscomani’s bill, House Republicans are delivering on our promise to secure our borders and protect communities across the nation.”
Border Patrol agent Raul Humberto Gonzalez, Jr. was killed in an ATV crash in December 2022 while attempting to chase down a group of illegal migrants crossing the border near Mission, Texas. The longtime federal agent was rushed to a local hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind two children.
Gonzalez’s death sparked mourning from Capitol Hill and a drive to crack down on illegal migrants brazenly putting agents at risk by leading them on dangerous high-speed pursuits.
A similar bill to H.R. 35 passed the House of Representatives in 2024, but died when it reached the Democrat-controlled Senate. With Republicans now in control of both chambers of Congress and a White House determined to crack down on illegal immigration, the future of the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act looks much more bright.
Support is already brewing in the upper chamber of Congress. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz — who has been advocating for this issue since Gonzalez’s passing — introduced a Senate companion version on Tuesday.
“The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act is a necessary and clear warning to anyone crossing our borders illegally: if you put our Border Patrol agents in harm’s way, there will be no escape, no leniency, and no exceptions,” Republican Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson said to the DCNF. “House Republicans are working with President Trump to deliver on his promise to secure the southern border with zero tolerance for reckless high-speed chases that endanger our law enforcement, ensuring those who jeopardize their lives face the full force of justice.”
Border Patrol agents do not have the safest occupation in the country. Between 2003 and 2023, a total of 58 Border Patrol agents died while on the job, according to a CATO study. Following homicides, vehicle accidents were the second-highest cause of death for agents, making up 20% of all agent fatalities.
Passage of the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act in the House follows a major push by the GOP for immigration reform. The Trump administration has ushered in numerous executive orders and internal agency directives aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement capabilities. The Laken Riley Act — named after a college student killed by an illegal migrant — was the first piece of legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump.
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