Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) said in an interview over the weekend that the illegal immigration crisis on the U.S. southern border is set to get significantly worse as the Biden administration is letting the Title 42 emergency order expire.
Gonzales, whose congressional district is on the U.S.-Mexico border, appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” with host Margaret Brennan on Sunday to discuss what the border would look like once the emergency order expires.
“Homeland Security is looking at 10,000 people per day potentially crossing the border,” Brennan said. “Do the agents you represent have what they need to deal with the surge?”
“They do not, Margaret,” Gonzales responded. “And this is honestly the fourth time that we’ve seen this Title 42 is going to end and every time we come to this situation before the crisis is this uptick in illegal immigration and we’re seeing that now whether it’s Brownsville, whether it’s Eagle Pass or whether it’s El Paso.”
“Now it’s all three of those areas. And so the numbers are getting worse,” he added. “The agents are beyond an exhausting point. And it’s not just at the border. Now what you’re seeing is places 100, 150 miles from the border are just as overwhelmed as if they were on the Rio Grande themselves.”
WATCH:
With Title 42 set to expire, @RepTonyGonzales says the number of migrants attempting to cross the border is “getting worse.”
“The agents are beyond an exhausting point…not just at the border,” he says, adding that agents up to 150 miles away are struggling with the influx. pic.twitter.com/uL6canITo1
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 30, 2023
TRANSCRIPT:
MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to immigration and the ongoing effort to secure America’s southern border. We’re joined by Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales. He’s at our affiliate in San Antonio, KENS 5. Thank you for joining us this morning.
REP. TONY GONZALES (R-TX): Thank you for having me, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I don’t have to tell you this date of May 11. But for our viewers, that’s when this health emergency restriction known as Title 42 will expire. Homeland Security is looking at 10,000 people per day potentially crossing the border. Do the agents you represent have what they need to deal with the surge?
REP. GONZALES: They do not, Margaret. And this is honestly the fourth time that we’ve seen this Title 42 is going to end and every time we come to this situation before the crisis is this uptick in illegal immigration and we’re seeing that now whether it’s Brownsville, whether it’s Eagle Pass or whether it’s El Paso. Now it’s all three of those areas. And so the numbers are getting worse. The agents are beyond an exhausting point. And it’s not just at the border. Now what you’re seeing is places 100, 150 miles from the border are just as overwhelmed as if they were on the Rio Grande themselves.