Democrats Who Voted to Put Migrants in Jail

Staff Writer

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Fifty-six Democrats joined every Republican member of the House of Representatives in voting for southern border-related legislation that issues penalties for undocumented immigrants.

The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, sponsored by Arizona Representative Juan Ciscomani, imposes criminal and immigration penalties for migrants who intentionally flee from pursuing federal officials while operating motor vehicles. The legislation is named in honor of former Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who died in 2022 following a vehicle crash resulting from pursuing undocumented migrants.

It passed as the situation at the border continues to draw major attention due to record numbers of migrant encounters, combined with a battle between the Biden administration and Texas Governor Greg Abbott following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling about what is legally allowed to deter undocumented individuals from crossing into the country. GOP governors and attorneys general have offered public support to Texas, in addition to resources like national guardsmen.

Border bill Democrats — Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) speaks to reporters outside of a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on September 27, 2023, in Washington, D.C. A bill sponsored by Ciscomani to fine and/or imprison undocumented... Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The bill, supported by 271 congressional members, refers to any undocumented individual operating a motor vehicle within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Any undocumented alien who has been convicted of, admits having committed or admits committing such acts will be ineligible for legal U.S. status.

General penalties may include fines and/or imprisonment for no longer than two years, while chases causing bodily harm could result in fines and/or imprisonment of not less than five years and no more than 20 years. If death results from such an interaction, imprisonment could translate to no less than 10 years and up to life.

In addition to the 156 Democrats who voted against the bill, four Republicans and three Democrats did not vote.

The 56 Democrats who supported the legislation are:

Colin Allred (TX)
Brendan Boyle (PA)
Nikki Budzinski (IL)
Yadira Caraveo (CO)
Matt Cartwright (PA)
Ed Case (HI)
Jim Costa (CA)
Joe Courtney (CT)
Angie Craig (MN)
Henry Cuellar (TX)
Sharice Davids (KS)
Don Davis (NC)
Chris Deluzio (PA)
Ruben Gallego (AZ)
Jared Golden (ME)
Josh Gottheimer (NJ)
Josh Harder (CA)
Jahana Hayes (CT)
Brian Higgins (NY)
Jim Himes (CT)
Steven Horsford (NV)
Chrissy Houlahan (PA)
Val Hoyle (OR)
Jeff Jackson (NC)
Marcy Kaptur (OH)
Bill Keating (MA)
Dan Kildee (MI)
Ann McLane Kuster (NH)
Greg Landsman (OH)
Susie Lee (NV)
Stephen Lynch (MA)
Seth Magaziner (RI)
Kathy Manning (NC)
Joeph Morelle (NY)
Jared Moskowitz (FL)
Frank Mrvan (IN)
Wiley Nickel (NC)
Jimmy Panetta (CA)
Chris Pappas (NH)
Mary Sattler Peltola (AK)
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA)
Brittany Pettersen (CO)
Pat Ryan (NY)
Andrea Salinas (OR)
Hillary Scholten (MI)
Kim Schrier (WA)
Mikie Sherrill (NJ)
Elissa Slotkin (MI)
Eric Sorensen (IL)
Abigail Spanberger (VA)
Greg Stanton (AZ)
Emilia Strong Sykes (OH)
Dina Titus (NV)
Gabe Vasquez (NM)
Marc Veasey (TX)
Susan Wild (PA)

"For far too long, cartels and smugglers have not faced serious enough consequences when they blatantly endanger our communities," Ciscomani, a Republican, said prior to Tuesday's roll call. "This bill signals to bad actors that we will pursue any action that threatens American lives to the fullest extent of our law."

The bill was reportedly supported by the National Border Patrol Council, Heritage Action, National Sheriffs' Association, Western States Sheriffs' Association, Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, and multiple sheriffs' offices in Arizona.