Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani, representing the state’s 6th district, introduced a new bill on Friday aimed at penalizing individuals involved in high-speed car chases along the southern border.
The proposed legislation, known as the “Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act,” pays tribute to the late Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent who tragically lost his life in a high-speed pursuit in 2022. The bill aims to hold “inadmissible migrants, cartel members, human smugglers, and other individuals involved in such activities” accountable by charging them with a federal offense, as stated in a press release. If the car chase results in a fatality, the offender will face a life sentence.
In a press release, Ciscomani expressed concern over the regular occurrence of high-speed car chases in the communities within her district. These chases not only put the lives of residents at risk but also endanger the frontline law enforcement officers and agents. Agent Raul Gonzalez’s tragic death and the countless similar incidents serve as a grim reminder of the dangers associated with these pursuits. To address this issue, Ciscomani introduced a bill named after Agent Gonzalez. This legislation aims to impose federal penalties on human smugglers and other individuals involved in high-speed chases with federal and local law enforcement. By implementing stricter consequences, Ciscomani hopes to send a clear message that anyone seeking to harm our communities will face full accountability under the law.
According to Paul Perez, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, border agents have been facing harassment from fleeing vehicles due to a lack of strict consequences.
The bill was initially introduced in September 2023 and received approval in the House of Representatives the following January with a vote of 271-154. However, it failed to pass in the Senate in May, preventing it from becoming law.
According to county attorney Lori Zucco, Cochise County, which is one of the five counties in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, has experienced a 30% surge in high-speed car chases involving human smugglers in recent years.
Zucco expressed in the release that our state and local law enforcement agencies have been responsible for apprehending, investigating, jailing, and prosecuting human smugglers who put many in our community at risk. He commended Congressman Ciscomani for reintroducing this crucial legislation and welcomed federal support in holding these individuals accountable and ensuring justice is served.
According to Tucson Sentinel, the legislation stipulates that any car, regardless of whether it is a border patrol agent or not, that tries to escape from law enforcement within 100 miles of the border may be subject to imprisonment. The driver alone could face up to two years in prison for the act itself, while causing harm to individuals during the high-speed escape could lead to charges carrying a sentence of five to 20 years in prison.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was recently reelected, emphasized the importance of border security in this session of Congress. Ciscomani is optimistic that the bill will successfully pass this time.
Republican Ciscomani secured a second term in November, triumphing over Democratic candidate Kirsten Engel in a fiercely contested race. His focus on border security policies resonated with voters in the rematch with Engel. In 2022, Ciscomani made history by becoming the first Mexican-born naturalized American to represent the state in Congress.