The next is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Tony Gonzales that aired on Sunday, Dec. 18. 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales whose district covers greater than 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border in West Texas. Good morning to you, Congressman.
REP. TONY GONZALES: Good morning, Margaret. Thanks for having me on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You heard the Senator they're calling for reform. However as you understand, until the Supreme Court docket steps in right here, Title 42 goes away. What has the federal authorities informed you is coming to your group within the coming days?
REP. GONZALES: Yeah, it's a dire scenario in El Paso. As you understand, town declared a state of emergency. That is one thing you do when there is a hurricane, a hearth or an earthquake. What is going on is it is a hurricane of migrants, and everyone seems to be impacted. I characterize 823 miles of the southern border. I've seen this actual play play out a 12 months in the past in Del Rio is what's taking place in El Paso now. You recognize, I used to be simply in El Paso a number of days in the past, and what I noticed on the migrant middle I had by no means seen earlier than. I've visited- I had visited the processing middle there many instances. And what I noticed had been tons of, over 500 migrants in a- in a pod, they name them pods, primarily a big cell that holds about 100 individuals. There's one toilet, the odor is horrible. And there is eight pods in there. And so these are the great circumstances. Outdoors simply above the hill, there is a thousand, a bit over 1000 migrants ready in outside circumstances, to not point out the individuals which can be ready by the- by the- by the bridge and elsewhere. It is a very dire scenario in El Paso.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I simply need to say to our viewers who're simply wanting there at video that you just supplied to CBS that I imagine you shot inside these amenities.
REP. GONZALES: I did.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're counting on that mobile phone video, partly as a result of CBS Information and different media organizations haven't been permitted to movie just lately inside these amenities. Why do you assume it can be crucial for the general public to see what's taking place inside?
REP. GONZALES: Yeah, Margaret, I visited there for a number of causes, to know the bottom reality and to have the ability to share the bottom reality, additionally, to let the- the Border Patrol brokers which can be underneath unimaginable quantities of stress, know that they are not forgotten. And what I noticed shocked me, and I needed to share that with the world. It is not about politics. It is not about you understand, making an attempt to create this- this picture that is not there. That is the fact. That is the info. We're not even on the worst of it but. A whole bunch of individuals caught in a- in a small space will not be good for everybody. What I additionally noticed was individuals with out socks and jackets, it'll be you understand, within the teenagers later this week. So it's- it is a very unhappy scenario all the way in which round. However I additionally say sufficient with the finger pointing. I do not care how we received right here. How will we get out of right here? And there is some issues that the administration can instantly do--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Like what?
REP. GONZALES: to alleviate this stress. Yeah. Look, the Biden this is not the- the primary time an administration has had a disaster, each presidency about President Obama, Trump
MARGARET BRENNAN: Certain, it is a hemispheric surge of migrants, although. This can be a hemispheric disaster.
REP. GONZALES: That is true. We have by no means seen it like this although. So what are a few of the issues that the administration can to do? Title 42 is gone, now we have pushed and pushed and pushed, we're three days away from that being gone. What are a few of the issues that the administration might do, they will re-implement a few packages that made sense, PACER and the HEART program, that is primarily having immigration judges on the border, which means you get your asylum case heard in days, not years. And if you don't qualify for asylum, you get returned again to your nation of origin through repatriation flights, you flip that course of again on with there's some enforcement and swiftly the stress will get down. I fear if that does not occur, we could also be shutting bridges down. Town of El Paso produces $138 billion price of commerce, you shut down at some point of that commerce and commerce, that $60 million. It will influence everyone, not simply those who reside alongside the border.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So the Biden administration is asking Congress for $3.4 billion to organize for this- this surge. Do you assume this can occur? Would you vote for it?
REP. GONZALES: I believe it is wanted. I believe it is completely wanted. However throwing cash at an issue doesn't clear up an issue. You may have a vast quantity of sentimental sided amenities. The issue is implementing the legal guidelines which can be already on the books. I might additionally argue the majority of individuals which can be coming over are simply making an attempt to reside a greater life. I get that. They're coming right here for economic- financial alternatives, however that does not qualify for asylum. Going again to immigration reform, I might like to have a dialog with the administration to work by way of one thing work visas make sense to me. Pathway to citizenship, amnesty that's lifeless on arrival. What individuals have tried earlier than have- has no likelihood of working. You bought to begin and construct out from there. I hosted the pres-
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay–
REP. GONZALES: I hosted the President within the valley and you understand, six months in the past and I requested him, Mr. President, I might love to go to with you concerning the border. He agreed to it. However but I've but to have that dialog with him.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, you're- you are placing your finger on the necessity to get bipartisan laws finished. However I gotta be sincere with you, lots of your fellow Republicans should not speaking that means. In reality, there's there's calls as you understand, to question the Homeland Safety Secretary. We had Michael Chertoff on this program, the Bush period Homeland Safety Secretary just lately, a Republican who stated this was a political stunt, a waste of efficiency on impeachment, by no means going wherever. How do you defend your get together prioritizing impeachment, while you're saying it's a dire disaster in want of substantive laws?
REP. GONZALES: We definitely must safe the border. It's extremely tough to have the dialog on immigration reform when- when the border will not be safe. However I additionally say I've hosted practically 100 Members of Congress these previous two years
MARGARET BRENNAN: I requested you about impeachment.
REP. GONZALES: Impeaching Mayorkas?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, what Republican management is speaking about prioritizing?
REP. GONZALES: Yeah, I believe that is going to- hearings are going to utterly happen. And the place that leads us, who is aware of, however I take impeachment extraordinarily critical. That is not a case of emergency, break glass. However impeachment. That is a protracted course of. Town of El Paso wants assist right now, not a 12 months from now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Congressman, good luck to you and your group. Within the coming days. We will likely be monitoring every part, Congressman Gonzales..
REP. GONZALES: Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: FACE THE NATION will likely be again in a single minute. Stick with us.