Ciscomani Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on High-Speed Car Chases Along the Border
January 10, 2025
WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced legislation to impose federal penalties on inadmissible migrants, cartel members, human smugglers, and other bad actors who engage in high-speed car chases with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers or local law enforcement agencies assisting the federal government.
Under the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35), which is named after a Border Patrol agent who was killed in a high-speed chase in 2022, failure to yield would be a federal crime and if anyone is killed during the apprehension, that individual would face a life sentence.
“Every day, communities across my district experience high-speed car chases that endanger the lives of residents and frontline law enforcement officers and agents,” said Ciscomani. “Far too often, these chases end in tragedy, as it did for Agent Raul Gonzalez and countless others. My legislation, fittingly named after Agent Gonzalez, would impose federal penalties on human smugglers and other bad actors that are involved in high-speech chases with federal and local law enforcement. We must send a clear message to anyone seeking to harm our communities that they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
This legislation currently has 21 cosponsors.
This bill is supported by the National Border Patrol Council, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Western Sheriffs’ Association, the Cochise County Sheriff, the Cochise County Attorney, the City of Benson Police Department, the Sierra Vista Police Department, the Bisbee Police Department, the City of Tombstone Marshal, the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and NumbersUSA.
I applaud and thank Congressman Ciscomani for his initiative to enhance our federal law enforcement’s ability to apprehend those who violate our rule of law and endanger our citizens,” said Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, a member of the Ciscomani’s Advisory Council.
"For decades, smugglers have brazenly used vehicles to flee from Border Patrol Agents because they knew there would usually be no penalties,” said Paul Perez, National Border Patrol Council President. “Instead, agents have had to rely on our local and state partners and hope that they would be able to prosecute smugglers who chose to get into high-speed pursuits, potentially endangering the public. We thank Congressman Ciscomani for reintroducing this legislation because, if passed, it will give Border Patrol Agents another tool that can be used to bring real consequences to those who flout the rule of law along our borders. The NBPC wholeheartedly supports this legislation and urges Congress to pass it."
“The City of Benson, Arizona, is a small, rural town in Southern Arizona, with limited crime and a huge winter traveler base,” said Greg Volker, Chief of Police, City of Benson. “We consider our partnership with the U.S. Border Patrol vital to continuing to keep our city safe and secure. Congressman Ciscomani has proven during his tenure that he is a congressman of the people, and he knows the needs of the City of Benson, Arizona because he visits, asks questions, and demonstrates who he is through action. One of his best actions is the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35). This is a dynamic piece of legislation that is not just essential to the mission of the U.S. Border Patrol but will have a dramatic effect for the entire United States of America.”
“The protection of our local communities in southeastern Arizona requires state, local, and federal law enforcement officials to work cohesively in the region,” Chris Hiser, Chief of Police, Sierra Vista Police Department One major area of concern has been the increase in vehicle pursuits in our communities due to human smuggling activity. This bill is an important tool that will empower law enforcement to hold offenders accountable as we collectively work to keep our communities safe.”
Agents of the Cartels who not only enter America illegally, but who with reckless disregard for the peace and safety of others through unlawful and dangerous flight from Law Enforcement, should be held accountable for their actions,” said Jim Adams, City of Tombstone Marshal
Over the past several years our border county has seen a more than 30% increase in human smuggling and high-speed failures to yield cases, which has created an increasingly unsafe, and oftentimes deadly environment,” said Lori Zucco, Cochise County Attorney. “Because it currently is not a federal offense to flee Border Patrol, our State and local law enforcement agencies have borne the brunt of apprehending, investigating, jailing, and prosecuting these human smugglers who have endangered so many in our community. We commend Congressman Ciscomani for reintroducing this vital legislation, and wholeheartedly welcome federal support in holding these individuals accountable and ensuring justice is served.”
“Representative Ciscomani’s bill would give law enforcement one more important tool to address the rampant criminality associated with our national borders, said Sheriff Kieran Donahue, President, National Sheriffs’ Association For too long, law enforcement efforts at every level in addressing the crisis at our borders have been undermined by dangerous vehicle pursuits, often with devastating consequences. The bill sends a clear message that such actions are incompatible with the rule of law.”
"Individuals who flee from Law Enforcement pose a significant risk to the safety of the public, and the officers involved," said Timothy Cox, Chief of Police, Bisbee Police Department. "There is a critical need to have criminal penalties for those individuals who willfully flee from federal agents, and assisting Law Enforcement agencies to deter such reckless and dangerous behavior. Enacting such penalties will have a significant impact on public and Officer/Agent safety."
Background:
- Floor consideration of the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act was included in the rules package for the 119th Congress.
- In the 118th Congress, this legislation passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support by a vote of 271-154.
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Issues:
Border Security