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The next is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, that aired on “Face the Nation” on July 23, 2023.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, who’s in San Diego, California, this morning. Good morning to you.
REPRESENTATIVE TONY GONZALES: Good morning, Margaret. Thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As you effectively know, the Justice Division has given Governor Abbott till 1 p.m. on Monday to take away this floating barrier within the Rio Grande, which he says is in place to expel migrants. Do you suppose that is humane and acceptable?
REP. GONZALES: I feel the border disaster has been something however humane. I feel you are seeing the governor do the whole lot he probably can to safe the border. However you’ve this states versus- versus central authorities nonstop going backwards and forwards. The buoys are-are one step. I feel you are seeing how determined a state of affairs is occurring in- in Texas. However what I am seeing is persons are getting injured alongside the border, persons are drowning definitely in that river. I might a lot fairly see not one individual step foot in that river vice having to go- vice going by means of these obstacles and other- different areas. However we cannot- we won’t simply wait on the President to resolve issues. We will not look forward to governors to attempt to repair it themselves. Congress has a job to play on this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. However the administration says that in a single week alone, brokers reported dozens of migrants with accidents together with these damaged limbs, you reference and drownings together with a number of kids underneath the age of 1. Ought to these buoys be eliminated now?
REP. GONZALES: I do not suppose the buoys are the issue. Actually, Margaret, this has been taking place each single week. We have seen folks drown final yr, there have been a whole lot of migrants which can be drowning. I am glad it is getting some consideration. I would a lot fairly see the eye get targeted on one thing else. The truth is the buoy is barely a really small, little portion of the river. So it continues to have these different obstacles. I’m involved although that, you understand, I’ve seen reviews that the DPS troopers, over a dozen, have filed complaints about what is occurring. One one assertion particularly, I noticed a person that’s an Iraq veteran that is saying you understand, a few of the humanitarian camps in Iraq had been handled higher than what’s taking place alongside the border.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, precisely. And that is why there’s such scrutiny right here. The administration is taking a look at a few of these claims being made by Texas troopers and Texas medics, one in all them, Nicholas Wingate, had an e mail that went public I am certain you’ve got seen it. He mentioned troopers had been ordered to push young children and nursing infants again into the river to disclaim water to migrants on this excessive warmth. He mentioned a pregnant lady who was within the midst of a miscarriage needed to be reduce out of razor wire she was ensnared in. That is your district, is that this acceptable? These techniques?
REP. GONZALES: It is not acceptable. It is not acceptable. And it hasn’t been acceptable for 2 years. If this was vital to President Biden, I am comfortable to host him–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However these techniques particularly. This medic is saying they may take measures underneath the legislation, however not ones which can be inhumane are these techniques, in your view inhumane.
REP. GONZALES: Every little thing that’s taking place alongside the border is-is-is simply including gas to the fireplace as a result of what you are having is you are having folks on the very high say one factor and the folks down on the floor do one other. The governor little question is doing the whole lot he can to safe the border. However there’s a disconnect between what is occurring on the high and the individual on the floor that’s delivering- that’s doing the precise operate. I might be comfortable to host the president of america at Eagle Move and stroll by means of this case. To me, Congress has to resolve this as a result of we have been ready on a president for many years to resolve this and it is not going to be solved. That is why I launched the HIRE Act. What the HIRE Act does is it focuses on authorized immigration. I am a proponent of authorized immigration. Proper now 9 out of 10 those who come over illegally don’t qualify for asylum. So let’s set- let’s cease sending them down this route. I am excited- this HIRE Act has a dozen Republican co-sponsors and half a dozen Democrat co-sponsors. What it does, it takes work visas from one yr to a few years. These are some issues that we are able to do to alleviate this disaster. As soon as once more, Margaret, I do not need to see one individual the first step foot within the water. Kind of have us discuss the-the dialogue of you understand, a few of these- these inhumane conditions that they are put in.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you’ve any pledge from the Speaker of the Home that he’ll put your vote- to place your invoice to a vote?
REP. GONZALES: I’ve spoken with leaderships on either side of the aisle. I feel this invoice has an extended approach to go. I additionally say that look sounds having 18 members–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — That appears like a no?
REP. GONZALES: What’s that?
MARGARET BRENNAN: That appears like no?
REP. GONZALES: I would not say no. I imply, the invoice has 18-18 co-sponsors. That is a great begin. I’ve acquired about 40 outdoors sponsors to incorporate the Chamber of Commerce, to incorporate the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, so numerous it depends on the rank and file coming collectively. However as soon as this invoice will get 100 co-sponsors, as soon as we get 100 outdoors organizations, how is that this going to assist American folks? should you’re bored with ready half-hour to your beer, the HIRE Act and assist get- get the labor scarcity down. , should you’re bored with ready two weeks to see a health care provider, as a result of there is a scarcity of nurses, the HIRE Act may help with that. You are bored with ready a month to get your rework and your toilet accomplished. These are smart choices. In my eyes, within the 118th Congress, what can get accomplished is one thing alongside these strains. We- you understand, immigration reform has for thus lengthy been targeted on the fringes, you understand, deal with border safety, or a pathway to citizenship. This does none of that, this focuses on work visas.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. It’s extremely, very, very slender. And it’s extremely, very targeted on seasonal staff and increasing for a really quick time frame, which I perceive your broader efforts. However-but it is chipping away at an issue. Within the second we’re in, do you suppose, this rapid disaster on the border, do you’ve any doubts in regards to the effectiveness of what the state is doing?
REP. GONZALES: I do have- I do have- I do fear what’s taking place in any respect ranges state, native, federal, and what I see is a disconnect. I see mistrust. I see Republicans blaming Democrats, Democrats blaming Republicans, and round-round and spherical we go along with nothing getting achieved. The aim of the HIRE Act was one easy factor: create belief, and put one step ahead. Unexpectedly, you’re taking one step, then you definately take two steps, then we are able to have a little bit little bit of belief and construct upon the harder issues. What will we do with the hundreds of thousands of individuals which can be already right here? What will we do with the hundreds of thousands of individuals which can be coming right here illegally? How will we stop them from taking these harmful vehicles? A type of choices is thru work visas. I feel it makes numerous sense. However it- it first begins with constructing a coalition of individuals keen to have that affordable dialog.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When it comes to the insurance policies in place proper now on the border, a California choose is poised to doubtlessly throw out a few of the Biden border insurance policies that had been put in place, as a result of they’re characterised as too restrictive. Okay. This may declare migrants ineligible for asylum in the event that they enter illegally or failed to hunt safety overseas. That is the present coverage, the court docket might throw that out. What do you suppose will occur? And do you suppose the administration deserves any credit score for what they’ve put in place?
REP. GONZALES: The- the numbers are completely down. However we’re nonetheless on monitor for 100,000 folks coming over illegally a month. These are nonetheless historic numbers, they’re down. I would a lot fairly see the administration as a substitute of specializing in unlawful immigration, as a result of proper now, 9 out of 10 folks that- that declare asylum aren’t going to get asylum. So cease sending them down this dead-end street, I might a lot fairly accomplice with the administration or anybody on authorized immigration. There isn’t any speak of authorized immigration. There isn’t any speak of accelerating authorized pathways. It is solely what occurs when persons are right here illegally. Will we push them within the river? Will we allow them to by means of? Will we give them this one app the place they go straight to it? It is all a damaged system. And the administration is doing little or no, if nothing to deal with authorized immigration. That is why I say we acquired to cease ready on the president. It must be Congress that leads and it must be the rank and file that come collectively, not as Democrats and Republicans, however as people who need to repair this downside.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So Homeland Safety and the Secretary deserve some credit score for the numbers being down? However you are simply saying it is inadequate.
REP. GONZALES: I imply, there is a lot- they do deserve some credit score for the numbers being down. However there’s numerous causes for that. It is also 115 levels in Texas proper now. So, you understand, lots of people are ready till a cooler a part of the yr to return over. However as soon as once more, I do not need one individual to the first step foot in that river illegally. What if there is a route the place they did not must be smuggled within the prepare? What if this, you understand the HIRE Act acquired handed, and folks can come over and work legally. Not having to dwell within the shadows must live- you understand, may very well be in a position to- to dwell their lives? Most individuals are coming right here, for one purpose, Margaret, and that is financial functions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I additionally need to ask you about different bipartisan efforts you’ve undertaken for college security, and round weapons. Uvalde is in your district, and also you champion the bipartisan, Safer Communities Act, which was put in place after the Uvalde bloodbath. So why is it that colleges in your district are being denied grants that they had been presupposed to be given underneath this legislation?
REP. GONZALES: Yeah, Margaret, I used to be one in all 14 Republicans that voted for this Bipartisan Safer Neighborhood Act, as a result of it will have prevented the Uvalde taking pictures and since that has turn into legislation, it has prevented not less than 300 comparable Uvalde shootings. What is occurring although, is it is handed into legislation and the cash is not making it all the way down to the faculties. I characterize 119 cities and cities within the district, I- I’ve visited over 100 of them, we acquired a dozen of them to use for these grants, zero of them had been awarded–
(CROSS TALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Why?
REP. GONZALES: — So it may well’t be because- I had a dialogue with the Lawyer Common on this. And- and to his credit score, you understand, we’re working collectively on it. There’s a few issues. One is, actually the cash is simply not going to the locations it must go. That is one. One other space is numerous instances these rural communities- I will offer you a quick instance Marfa, Texas, small West Texas group, they’ve 4 cops. In the event that they had been to get this grant, it will take them from 4 to 5. They had been ecstatic about it. They stayed up till 11 o’clock filling out this grant the perfect they might. So a big a part of that is- is getting the assistance they want. The grant writers, if you’ll, that is why it was so vital to accomplice with Camilla and- and Matthew McConaughey on these Inexperienced Lights Grants initiatives. It is an ideal instance of the place personal and public partnership can come collectively and assist these not solely rural communities but in addition bigger communities fulfill these grants.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood and thanks, Congressman, to your time in the present day. Face the Nation might be proper again. Stick with us.
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