The next is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Sept. 1, 2024.
NANCY CORDES: We’re joined now by Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales. Congressman, thanks a lot for being with us right here in Washington. You symbolize a border district. You heard what Camilo simply reported, and let’s put some numbers up on the display so individuals actually know what we’re speaking about. All yr lengthy, the variety of migrant encounters alongside the southern border was hovering just a little beneath 200,000 a month. Then this government order went into place in early June, and people numbers plunged to 100,000 in July, they had been lower in half. Are you able to name this transfer successful?
REP. TONY GONZALES: Nancy, it is nice to be right here. You recognize, I symbolize practically half of the general southern border. I actually was on the border on Friday. What I can let you know is issues are getting worse. And let me offer you an instance. So in the- within the New Mexico space, so far, there’s been 100 unlawful immigrants which have perished. Okay, each a part of the border is totally different. Elements of my district it takes you three days humping by way of the desert with the intention to make it to the border. Within the New Mexico space, it takes you one hour. So, how is 100 individuals dying in a single hour? The reason being these legal organizations are holding these migrants in these stash homes for typically over a month, feeding them one meal and one bottle of water a day. So when it’s time for them to lastly make that trek, they provide them caffeine tablets they usually attempt to rush them over. So in many- many circumstances, the humanitarian disaster alongside the border is getting worse. The opposite piece of it too in El Paso, one of many most secure nations in America, the FBI simply performed an operation this week, they usually scooped up dozens of those legal gangs, these anti gang activity forces. So in lots of circumstances, Individuals are much less secure due to this, and migrants are much less secure due to this. I have been of the advocate, that is the way you clear up it. If any person comes over illegally, they instantly get deported. You additionally double down on authorized immigration if you- if we need to win the house race, we will want engineers from all around the world. If we will develop our financial system, we will need- we will want the hospitality trade, development employees and different areas. You double down on work visas, you vet individuals, and also you double down on that. We’re not seeing any of that.
CORDES: So, you have been pushing for the administration to take government motion for years. They’ve now performed it, and also you’re saying you are not joyful about it, despite the fact that the numbers have come down so sharply.
REP. GONZALES: Properly ask the 100 households that were- that died. It is a half of- the ugly a part of it’s so many individuals are dying- and people are the individuals which might be dying. What concerning the individuals which might be getting assaulted and different areas, it is getting worse. So persons are trying on the numbers and considering, oh, it is getting higher. I take a look at it, who’s coming over and what’s occurring to those individuals. In lots of circumstances, these legal organizations, these Tren de Aragua, TDA, they’re rising in prominence, these Venezuelan gangs. They’re all around the nation, they usually’re seeping their- their tentacles into our society. We have now to get forward of this, and we’d like actual options. That actual answer is holding these individuals accountable, deporting individuals that are not right here, and double downing- double down on authorized work visas, individuals doing it the correct manner.
CORDES: Proper, so there are bipartisan proposals to take care of these very difficult issues you are describing. Considered one of them was- was struck within the Senate, however former President Trump scuttled that deal, as you recognize, do you want that he would have allowed that to go ahead?
REP. GONZALES: There have been some optimistic issues out of that, the border bundle that the Senate was engaged on, however there was some very destructive issues. I would not have voted for that. The rationale I would not voted for it as a result of it allowed 5000 individuals to interrupt the legislation earlier than you enact it, the numbers ought to at all times be zero. We will each be agency on unlawful immigration, and there was no speak of authorized immigration. What about rewarding these which might be doing it the correct manner. What about our allies in Afghanistan that we have left behind? There’s some issues that might have been performed. That was a failed- it was a failed invoice. There’s hundreds of those payments, that was a failed invoice earlier than it even will get going. I am on the lookout for severe companions.
CORDES: There is a bipartisan invoice within the Home. Do you help that?
REP. GONZALES: Which invoice? I imply, the invoice that I take a look at it by way of the lenses is–
CORDES: I am speaking about Congresswoman Escobar’s invoice.
REP. GONZALES: Oh that has no likelihood of going anyplace. You recognize why? As a result of it is 500-pages lengthy. So that provides you anybody, anyone individual, to say, I do not like this invoice. The opposite piece of it too is it talks about permitting individuals which might be right here illegally, pathway to citizenship. That could be a- is useless on arrival. You do not even need to go there. You must begin with securing the border and work visas, individuals which might be vetted right here to return. You need to speak about pathway to citizenship. That is code for you actually don’t need to clear up the issue.
CORDES: Okay, however, you say you need to clear up the issue, and but you do not like all of the bipartisan proposals on the market. Are you writing your personal?
REP. GONZALES: I do. Yeah, I’ve a invoice. It is really three-pages lengthy, and what it does is it extends work visas from one yr to 3 years, and it permits individuals to streamline the method. As an alternative of mailing in work visas, you do it on-line, like everybody else. And there is additionally a border safety piece to it too. So you’ll be able to solve- you are able to do each. We will each be heat and welcoming, and we will each safe the border. All of the proposals proper now don’t have any likelihood of it. And here is one other factor, when- when was- has Tim Walz ever been to the border? When was the final time he is been to the border? So it’s a must to see it. To listen to these tales concerning the 100 migrants which have died in New Mexico, it’s a must to see it firsthand.
CORDES: You served within the Navy for 20 years as a veteran. I need to get your tackle what occurred this week at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery. The Secretary of the Military felt that she needed to put out an announcement saying that, “an ANC worker”, an Arlington Nationwide Cemetery worker, “who tried to make sure adherence to the foundations, was abruptly pushed apart” when the Trump marketing campaign tried to deliver a marketing campaign photographer onto the grounds with the previous president after which a prime Trump adviser posted even after that. “I am reposting this to hope to set off the hacks on the secretary of Military’s workplace.” Have you ever ever seen a marketing campaign speak this fashion concerning the army?
REP. GONZALES: You recognize, the humorous factor about President Trump is he will get all the eye, and it doesn’t matter what he does, typically that will get spawned this fashion or the opposite. I can let you know that veterans–
NANCY CORDES: That is not spin, that is his personal marketing campaign employees.
REP. GONZALES: Properly, I can let you know veterans help Trump far and away, and the truth that he was there to spotlight that the 13 Individuals that had been killed at Abbey Gate, I believe that is one thing that is ignored. As soon as once more, I served in Afghanistan, in contrast to Tim Walz, who didn’t serve in Afghanistan. I have been there. I retired as an E-9, in contrast to Tim Walz, who retired as an E-8. It is vital for us to point out up on the–
CORDES: Wait are you saying- I am simply curious when you- if you evaluate your service to Tim Walz, are you saying that he is in some way much less of a Veteran?
REP. GONZALES: I am saying he lied about what pay grade he retired at. And I am saying I am not mendacity concerning the pay grade I retired at. I am additionally saying it is vital that we- Arlington is a really particular place.
CORDES: It’s.
REP. GONZALES: We have now to ensure it is a particular place, and we have now to maintain politics out of it. And I believe it is vital that we try this. And so, you recognize, I wish- I want each President Trump and, you recognize, President Biden had been there highlighting the actual fact of those Gold Star households. That is what we have to get again to. It is a lot finger pointing. I get it. It is in direction of the tail finish of the- of the election, however we have now to get again to placing veterans first, placing our households first, and placing the American individuals above the whole lot else.
CORDES: Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas, thanks a lot for being right here with us this morning.
REP. GONZALES: Thanks Nancy.
CORDES: I recognize it, and we’ll be again in a second. Keep on with us.