EAGLE PASS, Texas — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas) says he is prepared for a budget showdown if measures to strengthen border security are not included in the government funding debate later this month. The congressman spoke to Breitbart, Texas, during a recent border trip attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and 64 other Republicans.
Gonzalez told Breitbart that only policy changes will correct the border situation, and that funds earmarked for the border crisis must be put toward ending catch-and-release and strengthening border security.
If Congress does not approve additional temporary funding by midnight on January 19th, multiple government agencies could face a shutdown. Government agencies facing closure on this date include the Food and Drug Administration, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The expiration of additional continuing resolutions on February 2 could affect remaining government agencies unless Congress takes action to provide additional funding or approve the full budget. These agencies include the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Mr. Gonzalez said he is determined to firmly oppose any measure that seeks to fund temporary processing facilities that only facilitate the release of immigrants into the United States and not their forced removal. “If you want to talk more about ICE flights, I'm all for it. Instead of busing people all over the country, let's fly them back to Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, or wherever they're from,” he added.
Rep. Gonzalez, whose district covers 800 miles of the border with Mexico, voted against two previous continuing resolutions that did not include significant border enforcement provisions. He told Breitbart Texas that he is prepared to take similar action if current funding expires without the necessary policy reforms to get Border Patrol agents back in the field. Gonzalez said he's not alone in taking this position, but he's not predicting a government shutdown.
Wednesday's Congressional delegation was the largest ever to arrive in the small border city of Eagle Pass. A record 71,000 migrants crossed the Rio Grande into the Del Rio border patrol area in December, with most choosing to cross at Eagle Pass, Breitbart Texas reported. Although the pace of migrants entering the country has slowed in recent days, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a press conference Wednesday that the record border crossings are directly attributable to President Joe Biden's policy failures.
Johnson laid the blame for the border crisis squarely at the president's feet, saying, “Some of the first actions Joe Biden took when he appeared in the Oval Office were introduced under the Trump administration. “It was a rollback of border security measures that had been implemented.” management. Remember, it was on his first day in office that President Biden halted construction of the southern border wall and ended the Remain in Mexico policy. ”
He told reporters that 312 immigrants on the FBI's terrorist watch list entered the country under the supervision of the current administration. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the current situation was unsustainable without immediate policy changes, including the reintroduction of the Remain in Mexico policy to stop abuse of the asylum system. Johnson also called on President Biden to end the wholesale use of parole powers to admit migrants at ports of entry, and to end “catch-and-release” practices at the border.
randy clark He is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Division Chief of Law Enforcement Operations and directed operations for nine Border Patrol stations within the Del Rio, Texas area. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.
