Congressman García’s Statement on His Vote Against H.R. 35

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García issued the following statement on his decision to vote against H.R. 35, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act:

“Fleeing border patrol already carries criminal and legal penalties under current law, and a conviction for fleeing border patrol already makes a person deportable. What H.R. 35 does is establish new penalties, making all noncitizens—including the 12.8 million legal permanent residents living in the United States and thousands in my district—deportable without being charged, without a trial, and without conviction. This is why I will be voting against this legislation. This radical bill does not even require for a person to know they are fleeing border patrol, undercover agents, or anyone deputized by border patrol. And since the border patrol can search people without a warrant within 100 miles of any U.S. border, this bill affects an area where 200 million Americans live—including the 10 largest U.S. cities, and ten entire states.

“President Trump is looking for any reason to target all immigrants, weaponize fear, and support his mass deportation agenda. But no president has the power to end the constitutional right to due process.”

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