House criminalizes high-speed chases involving migrants



by: Julian Resendiz
Posted: Jan 30, 2024 / 06:37 PM CST
Updated: Jan 30, 2024 / 06:37 PM CST




Arizona Republican celebrates ‘bipartisan’ nod to life in prison for smugglers if they flee law enforcement and their migrants die




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EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – An Arizona congressman is celebrating the House passage of a bill cracking down on migrant smugglers involved in high-speed chases with federal and local law enforcement within 100 miles of the border.

H.R. 5585, also known as the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, passed the House of Representatives on a 271-154 “bipartisan” vote, sponsor U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, said.

“Every day, high-speed chases initiated by smugglers jeopardize (public) safety,” Ciscomani said. “For far too long, cartels and smugglers have not faced serious enough consequences when they blatantly endanger our communities. This bill signals to bad actors that we will pursue, to the fullest extent of our law, any action that threatens American lives.”

H.R. 5585 modifies Chapter 2 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code by adding the offense of evading arrest or detention while operating a motor vehicle fleeing Border Patrol or any pursuing federal, state or local law enforcement assisting the Border Patrol.

Video: Smuggler leads troopers on chase before crashing into ranch fence, migrants bail out

The bill sets fines and prison of up to two years against individuals who initiate such pursuits, up to 20 years for those who cause serious bodily injuries, and 10 years to life in prison if someone dies.

“High-speed migrant pursuits have become a weekly if not daily occurrence in border communities,” co-sponsoring U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, said earlier. “Schools have continuously locked down and people have died as a result. Enough is enough.








U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, talks to reporters following a GOP caucus meeting at the Republican National Committee offices on Capitol Hill on Feb. 28, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)



Texas Republican Ted Cruz introduced the bill’s namesake in the Senate last September. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act also would render permanently ineligible for immigration benefits any offending drivers who happen to be unauthorized non-citizens and require the Attorney General to submit an annual report on prosecutions under such law.

“This bill is simple. It makes evading law enforcement within 100 miles of the border a federal crime,” Ciscomani said Tuesday on the House floor. “How anybody can be against this commonsense legislation is beyond me. Calling it unnecessary is something those who are opposing this should maybe address with the families that have perished due to these tragedies we see on the border and in my district on a weekly basis.”

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Ciscomani said the bill is aimed at “bad actors” who know starting a chase endangers the lives of those they are transporting. That includes U.S. citizens who contract themselves out to the Mexican cartels, he said.

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., died while on duty on Dec. 7, 2022. The 38-year-old, 10-year veteran of the Border Patrol was engaged in a pursuit of migrants near Mission, Texas.






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