Republican Party of Texas’s censure of US Rep. Tony Gonzales may help to help secure the border
Congressman Tony Gonzales visits the Texas border on March 8.
March 14, 2023 | Austin, TX
The Republican Party of Texas (RPT) officially censured Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-Dist. 23) on March 4, imposing the full set of penalties allowed by the rules, for lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities. RPT Rule 44 allows the party to censure elected officials who violate Texas Republican Party principles and priorities three times or more in a given biennium. The censure of Representative Gonzales details five such instances on issues such as traditional marriage, second amendment protections, preserving freedom, and border security.
The original censure resolution by the Medina County Republican Party was supported by 16 out of the 29 counties in Representative Gonzales’s district, and required at least a three-fifths vote to pass the 64-member State Republican Executive Committee. The final vote was 57 in favor, five opposed, and one abstention. This is only the second time in history the Republican Party of Texas has utilized the Rule 44 censure option.
The full resolution is here.
Gonzales’s district encompasses more than 820 miles of Texas border
The RPT censure of Representative Gonzales may help discourage him from running again. Gonzales’s district contains more miles of the border than any other congressional district in Texas, yet Gonzales has repeatedly failed to do what is best for his constituents and secure the border. As a result of the censure, Gonzales will be subject to several consequences including a loss of party funds for his reelection bid. Gonzales failed to support the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023, which would put pressure on Homeland Security to take action to prevent illegal aliens from entering the country.
Representative Gonzales on March 8 led a Congressional Delegation to Eagle Pass and Uvalde in his 23rd Congressional District. During their visit, members held a roundtable discussion with farmers, ranchers, first responders, and local officials; visited high-speed pursuit routes with local law enforcement; and received a briefing at the Uvalde Border Patrol station which houses unaccompanied migrant children.
Congressional members on the visit included Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL 27), Erin Houchin (R-IN 09), Aaron Bean (R-FL 04), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX 15), and James Moylan (R-Guam District At Large).
“With over 820 [miles] of the southern border, my district is the epicenter of the border crisis,” said Congressman Gonzales. “Through meetings with local law enforcement, Border Patrol agents, and landowners, we were able to yet again see the challenges and frustrations Americans along the border are facing every day. In order to deliver real change for border communities, it is essential for my colleagues in Congress to see this crisis firsthand.”
Congressman Gonzales fails to support the Border Safety and Security Act
Yet, in spite of his first-hand look at the border crisis, Congressman Gonzales has failed to support HR 29, the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023: “To authorize the Secretary of homeland Security to suspend the entry of aliens, and for other purposes,” sponsored by Texas Representative Chip Roy and co-sponsored by 49 other Republicans. He is the only Texas Republican not supporting this bill.
According to the Republican Party of Texas, Congressman Gonzales has gone on the record opposing this legislation, in opposition to the Republican Party of Texas Legislative Priority to “secure the border and protect Texans.” While opposing this legislation, Congressman Gonzales has falsely stated that the legislation would ban “all asylum, to include legitimate asylum,” and has repeated the Democratic canard that supporters of border security are “anti-immigrant.”
Federal Judge rules the Biden Administration has violated federal law
On March 8, US Federal Judge T. Kent Wetherell ruled that the Biden Administration has violated federal law by releasing illegal immigrants en masse at the Texas southern border. "Collectively, these actions were akin to posting a flashing “Come In, We’re Open” sign on the southern border," Judge Wetherell stated in the ruling.
The crisis happening at our border can’t be overstated. Operation Lone Star, Governor Greg Abbott's multi-agency effort to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the border, can only enforce existing laws.
“In 2023 alone, this surge of illegal immigration will saddle Texas taxpayers with an estimated financial burden of $13.3 billion,” said Governor Abbott, who announced “securing the border” as one of his emergency legislative items on Feb. 16.