Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act

The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act would establish a new federal criminal offense for operating a motor vehicle while intentionally fleeing from U.S. Border Patrol agents or law enforcement officers assisting them within 100 miles of the U.S. border. The bill is named after a Border Patrol agent killed during a high-speed chase in 2022.

The bill would impose escalating criminal penalties based on the severity of the incident. For basic evasion, individuals would face up to 2 years in prison and fines. If the flight causes serious bodily injury, the penalty would increase to 5 to 20 years in prison. If someone dies during the incident, the penalty would range from 10 years to life in prison. These penalties would apply to any person operating a vehicle in the specified border zone who intentionally flees from pursuing law enforcement.

The bill would also create immigration consequences for non-citizens convicted of this offense. Such individuals would be deemed inadmissible to the United States, deportable if already present, and ineligible for any immigration relief including asylum. This means even individuals who might otherwise qualify for asylum protection would lose that eligibility if convicted under this law.