By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-19 18:06:26 | Updated at 2026-08-20 06:51:57
13 hours ago
Democrat Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has been trying to distance himself from past immigration policies, but unearthed audio obtained by the Daily Caller shows just how radical his views are.
Gonzalez previously led an immigration bill called the Safe Zone Act, which would have established “safe zones” along the southern border with Mexico, as well as a facility in Guatemala where foreigners could apply for asylum in the United States.
In addition to taxpayer-funded facilities, housing, meals, and medical care, Gonzalez floated adding taxpayer-funded air travel to import migrants to their desired destination. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Gun YouTuber Brandon Herrera Outraises Democrat Opponent’s Entire Campaign In First 45 Days Of Q3)
“It creates zones in Guatemala, in Panama, in Colombia, in other countries, where migrants can ask for asylum in that juncture,” Gonzalez said in an unearthed 2023 episode of PBS NewsHour.
“If they’re gonna ultimately be let in under the credible fear standard which we now use on the Southern border, we should allow them to fly to their destination.”
Gonzalez has since moderated on the issue and doesn’t even have an immigration policy agenda listed on his campaign website.
Notably, Gonzalez’s district in Texas has been redrawn by the state legislature into one that voted for President Donald Trump by 10 points in 2024, making him one of the most vulnerable incumbents this election cycle. (RELATED: ‘I Failed’: House Democrat Who Voted To Fund ICE Publicly Apologizes)
He has also crossed the aisle on key votes like the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which had the SAVE America Act attached. Gonzalez was one of six Democrats who joined Republicans to pass the NDAA with Trump’s congressional priorities attached.
Gonzalez was also one of seven House Democrats who voted to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the January vote to end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.
Gonzalez will face off against Republican nominee Eric Flores on November 3.
Gonzalez’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller.
