Suffolk Reporter

Rep. Nick LaLota of Suffolk County has announced his support for H.R. 35, known as the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act. This legislation aims to impose stricter penalties on individuals who evade U.S. Border Patrol within 100 miles of the border, including deportation for criminal illegals.

"Every executive order signed and piece of legislation passed pertaining to border security underscores the determined commitment of President Trump and the Republican Congress to secure America's borders," stated LaLota. "We are drastically reducing the lethal influx of fentanyl and deterring malicious actors from compromising our national safety."

LaLota emphasized that his backing of this act reinforces his dedication to enhancing border security, protecting frontline defenders, and ensuring community safety. "Together, we are making America more secure!" he added.

The bill is named in honor of Border Patrol Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr., who died on December 7, 2022, following injuries sustained while on patrol near McAllen, Texas. The act proposes penalties for those evading law enforcement within a 100-mile radius of the border: two years imprisonment or a fine; five to twenty years if serious injury occurs; ten years to life if death results.

Additionally, any alien admitting to or convicted under this offense would be deemed inadmissible or deportable from the United States.

In March 2024, LaLota co-sponsored the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act, mandating presidential action to secure the southern border and allocating defense funds for allies and Taiwan's protection against threats.

Earlier in February 2024, LaLota called upon the Biden Administration to enforce existing immigration laws urgently. By January 2024, he had visited the U.S.-Mexico border three times urging decisive measures from federal authorities.

In May 2023, he supported the Secure the Border Act aimed at reforming immigration systems by enhancing asylum processes and bolstering law enforcement capabilities at borders.

In April 2023, LaLota co-introduced the Border Reinforcement Act of 2023 designed to provide necessary resources for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alongside local law enforcement agencies amidst escalating challenges at borders.