Dem compares bill on illegality of running from border agents to Fugitive Slave Act

While commenting on legislation that outlines penalties for fleeing in vehicles from Border Patrol, a Democratic House member compared it to the Fugitive Slave Act on Thursday. This comes as the GOP has been moving to crack down on illegal immigration as President Donald Trump promised during his campaign.

Democrat Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR) said on Tuesday, “I urge my colleagues to oppose HR 35. Let's call this bill what it is, fear-mongering dressed up as officer safety. This bill echoes one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.”

"Today, just like that shameful law, HR 35 forces local authorities and encourages the deputizing of randos to do the federal government's work, punishing them if they refuse. Back then, it was hunting down people who dared to seek freedom. Today, it's forcing local police to become federal enforcers,” Bynum added.

HR 35, or the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, passed in the House on Thursday with a vote of 264 to 155.

The legislation states that if someone is fleeing from Border Patrol in a vehicle within 100 miles of the US border they will be “imprisoned for a term of not more than 2 years.” The law also applies to situations where local officers are helping to enforce immigration laws.

If an officer suffers bodily injury or death as a result of the offender fleeing immigration enforcement, the penalties increase to a minimum of five years for injury and a maximum of 20 and 10 years for death to a maximum of life in prison.

The bill was named after Agent Raul Gonzalez, who was killed during a crash in 2022 when he was pursuing illegal immigrants in Texas. A similar bill has been introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz in the Senate.