WASHINGTON, D.C. — Having secured a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in November, Republicans are trying to make good on their biggest campaign promise: passing legislation to improve border security.
But there is a disagreement about just how restrictive the Republican plan should be, with two Republicans from adjacent districts in Texas having fundamental differences about how to proceed.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, said his constituents want to see greater security along the border with Mexico, which runs for hundreds of miles along the southern edge of his district.
“My district demands help today,” Gonzales said. “We’re on fire. I represent places like Uvalde, Eagle Pass, Del Rio and El Paso. We need results. We need real tangible solutions, and that starts by sitting down and having meaningful conversations, not just passing messaging bills that are no doubt not gonna get passed.”
Gonzales is the only House Republican from Texas who has not signed onto a sweeping plan the delegation unveiled to tighten border security. He takes issue with provisions that would empower border agents to turn away migrants, even asylum seekers, until the federal government can detain them.
Historically, the government has never had that capacity.
“I’m tired of the excuses. Too many in our delegation, Republicans included, are making excuses and saying why they can’t support a policy that is literally a reflection of existing law, the same as the Title 42 powers during the pandemic of turn away,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said.
“We can do that. We can have the humane path for someone claiming asylum, but make sure we’re enforcing the law and that’s what the bill does.”
Roy, whose district borders Gonzales’, is sponsoring legislation to enact the rules his fellow Texas Republican opposes.
Roy rejects the criticism that his bill would block migrants fleeing violence or political persecution from obtaining asylum. He said the current practice of allowing people who cross the border illegally to apply for asylum in the U.S. is no longer sustainable.
“I talked to them in my broken Spanish when they’re coming across the river,” Roy told Spectrum News. “‘Why are you coming here? Where are you coming from? I want a job. I want opportunity.’ And God bless them. God bless them, I understand it. But it’s irresponsible for us to allow that to be the way our system is working because cartels are exploiting them.”
Gonzales argues addressing border security and reforming the immigration system are two separate issues, and that tightening the border should not block entry to those who have a legal right to seek asylum.
“I’ve been extremely hawkish on border security, saying we should prevent bad actors from entering our country: terrorists, fentanyl, all those types of things,” he said. “But we can still be warm and welcoming to those that want to come live the American dream. So I think that’s important to separate the two and not have this anti-immigrant rhetoric sprinkled throughout our party.”
House Republican leaders plan to pass several border security bills, but the legislation would likely face an uphill battle in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.
Democratic lawmakers said addressing border security without overhauling the immigration system is a non-starter.