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The next is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Feb. 8, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we flip now to Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales. Good morning.
REP. TONY GONZALES: Good morning. Thanks Margaret for having me on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s speak about immigration. We have spoken earlier than. You could have this border district. You understand quite a lot of border patrol brokers personally–
REP. GONZALES: –Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’re your constituents. So Friday, homeland safety funding goes to run out.
REP. GONZALES: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And there is this standoff within the Senate particularly. Democrats are demanding a variety of reforms, and I need to lay them out right here. And that is kind of the price of their vote. Democrats need to require a judicial warrant, not simply an administrative one, to enter non-public property. They need federal legislation enforcement brokers to indicate ID, put on physique cameras, commonplace uniforms, no masks, shield delicate places like faculties and church buildings, cease racial profiling, coordinate with native jurisdictions to prosecute crimes. Are you on board with any of those calls for? Do you see a deal?
REP. GONZALES: I believe we have to work by it. There are some issues that make sense, there’s quite a lot of issues that do not. Just some days in the past, this was a bipartisan vote, and swiftly, now the Democrats are attempting to carry the nation hostage. I will let you know what’s not going to be in there, amnesty for unlawful aliens. I will let you know what’s not going to be there, stripping away protections for legislation enforcement officers which can be making an attempt to guard themselves. If rioters get to put on a masks, then- then legislation enforcement will get to put on a masks as nicely. What might be in there? I believe the physique cameras make quite a lot of sense. I used to be actually inspired to see Secretary Noem and Tom Homan execute that. I believe these are, these are good components of it, and one other, one other factor that works going again to my district, one other factor that works is communication. I believe it might be very, very key if there have been communication liaisons in all of the communities that ICE has, which means not altering coverage, simply sharing communication from the group. To illustrate town supervisor, for instance metropolis council, group leaders, as much as the administration and again down. I noticed the Biden administration do that with ranch liaisons when the ranchers had been actually upset. And as soon as once more, that helped. These are a pair issues that I believe may make it- may could possibly be, could possibly be the glue that will get this package deal going,
MARGARET BRENNAN: If the administration will go together with that coordination with native officers.
REP. GONZALES: Yeah, completely. The liaison piece makes quite a lot of sense to me. I imply that one, as soon as once more, you are not- ICE shouldn’t be going to cease going to those communities. It could be useful if we had many Tom Homans all all through the nation principally saying that is what we’re doing, not leaving issues to what ifs and letting different individuals fill that void, however an precise sharing up and down the chain of command if you’ll.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you in regards to the warrants right here. The Trump administration has modified learn how to use warrants and arrests. They enable warrantless arrests as nicely. This wasn’t completed even in the course of the first Trump administration. Chief Jeffries was on one other community this morning and mentioned judicial warrants ought to completely be required earlier than ICE brokers can storm non-public property. It shouldn’t be controversial, this demand. They only need adherence to Fourth Modification constitutional protections. As a conservative, should not a decide be consulted?
REP. GONZALES: In fact, I imagine within the Fourth Modification. However what worries me is a decide mustn’t maintain up every little thing. We’re seeing judges all around the nation transcend their stage of authority, and so, if a legislation enforcement officer, let’s simply say, for instance, sees against the law that is being dedicated or has due pro- or has due trigger, then why cannot they go in there. These administrative warrants, they are not new. Abruptly, the left is-
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s new interpretation of them, and the ICE director has disclosed that.
REP. GONZALES: Nicely they’re complaining about using them. However for those who’re an ICE agent and you do not have cooperation from native or native officers, how are you alleged to get that prison that is in someone’s group? How are you alleged to take away them? That is what worries me. If we enable judges to be the- the roadblock, it would not preserve our group protected.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you- that is a tough line for you when it comes to you’d by no means get on board with requiring {that a} judicial warrant be required to enter non-public property?
REP. GONZALES: Administrative warrants work. I need to give legislation enforcement each software they should exit and apprehend these convicted criminals which can be unfastened in our group. To me, that makes quite a lot of sense. Why you’d need to shackle your personal legislation enforcement from maintaining our group protected is senseless to me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the Fourth Modification protects all individuals, no matter citizenship or nationwide origin, from unreasonable search and seizure, so a few of these collateral arrests are warrantless, however that is the politics of, of this funding invoice. I will put the coverage apart for a second as a result of I need to ask you in regards to the cross examination you are going to have the chance to make this week as a result of you have got the top of ICE, CBP and one other company come earlier than the Homeland Safety Committee. The Republican chair says he has questions on coaching of immigration brokers and their use of drive. Are you snug with what you noticed occur in Minneapolis? I imply, are Republicans going to strategy this in a partisan approach or maintain them to account?
REP. GONZALES: What occurred in Minneapolis, no person on this nation ought to need. We should always all try to not be Minneapolis. We do not need to see native communities not work with federal authorities, and we do not need to see–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –The leaders of the companies are those you are going to be questioning, although.
REP. GONZALES: In fact, and I need, I need to know, hey, what are you doing to work with others throughout the group? In order that approach it isn’t simply that ICE going it alone. It should not be that approach, and that is what we’re seeing. Secretary Noem has been very clear- very clear on making an attempt to construct these relationships out, and Tom Homan is delivering on this by getting in there. 80 counties are actually swiftly working with ICE, permitting us in jails–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That was a selection by the administration–
REP. GONZALES: –That works–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –To begin working with locals. That was a change.
REP. GONZALES: They have been making an attempt to do that. The issue is, is you have bought so many native municipalities that do not need to commun- that do not need to work collectively, and when that occurs, your metropolis burns. We do not need Los Angeles. We should not need Minneapolis. Folks can protest. Folks can be capable to say, hey, we can’t agree with sure coverage, however there must be extra collaboration on the native, state and federal stage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, we will should take a break right here, however I’ve extra questions for you on the opposite aspect of it, so for those who would, stick with us. We’ll be proper again with extra Face the Nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face The Nation. We return now to our dialog with Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas. On the homeland safety entrance, we see in our CBS polling that the credibility of the president’s deportation coverage is in query. And you may see it proper there. Plenty of the American public simply would not assist the strategies used for mass deportation, despite the fact that they like the thought of mass deportation. Previously, you have, you have questioned whether or not the administration was actually specializing in the worst of the worst. You mentioned do not deport “abuelita.” Do you assume that they’re really listening to the priority that individuals like you have got raised? And do you assume there’s any enchancment?
REP. GONZALES: Very early on I discussed, hey, if we go down this route as a celebration, we’re not going to achieve success, and we’re seeing a few of that with a few of these particular elections which can be occurring. I’m inspired, I’ve seen the administration spotlight extra on convicted prison aliens. I am seeing Secretary Noem and–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –in their messaging or of their arrests?
REP. GONZALES: Of their arrests and of their focus of going into the jails. In case you go right into a jail and also you go cell-by-cell, that makes much more sense to American individuals than going house-by-house, going, are you an American citizen or not? And it is safer. It is safer for the brokers as nicely. So I believe if we go down that route, we’ll, we will- we as a Republican Occasion, shall be profitable. The opposite a part of it too is to speak about authorized immigration. The president has talked about this many occasions. Final week he- there was 65,000 work visas that he signed off on. The place he goes, you are not invited to this nation for those who are available in illegally, however for those who’re right here authorized, we encourage you to return, you realize, do it the suitable approach.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, I need to speak about that once more in a second, however simply to choose up on what you talked about in your house state. You noticed this beautiful win by Democrat Taylor Rehmet in what had been a reliably purple district. And, the truth is, one in all 26 statehouse seats which have flipped from Republican to Democrat nationally since President Trump took workplace. This wasn’t a one-off, in different phrases. And within the Texas press, there’s quite a lot of give attention to the Latino voters as having actually swung again or swung to the Democratic Occasion. Why? What’s occurring?
REP. GONZALES: Individuals are anxious.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it the deportation coverage?
REP. GONZALES: It is it is a few of what’s being portrayed and what, one of many issues I believe may be very efficient for the administration, is for them to spotlight the individuals that they are deporting- they’re deporting, put them on the web site, present them and go, these are the parents that we’re coming after that- I’d argue the Hispanic vote is what gave us the Republicans the Home, the Senate and the White Home. And if we need to preserve that long run, we do should make a shift, not essentially in coverage however in communication. I discussed this earlier, a communication liaison of somebody saying, hey, that is what we’re doing, working with others. So it isn’t only a shock. Prime instance, San Antonio. We’ve a brand new ICE facility inbuilt San Antonio. Lots of people are anxious, they do not know where- what’s occurring. That is $125 million that is coming to the group, have 1200 jobs, and after it will get established, there will be one other 125 million with 325 good paying jobs for our area people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However- however respectfully, prior to now, you have got mentioned this is not only a PR downside. You really appeared on the numbers and located that it was not the worst of the worst in these detention amenities.
REP. GONZALES: Proper. It is not a PR downside. It has to be- It has to be-
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s a coverage downside.
REP. GONZALES: It needs to be a coverage. However what I’m seeing is they’re going after the worst of the worst. They’re speaking about we’re going after the worst of the worst. The half I believe we will enhance on is speaking with the native municipalities, these that do not have an thought, and be capable to go, no, you have got a seat on the desk. We wish you to have a seat on the desk. Even when it is totally different, even when it is a totally different dialog or a distinct ideology, it is best to have a seat on the desk in order that approach your residents know what’s occurring in your group.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So Trump, Trump was not the primary president of the US to detain youngsters.
REP. GONZALES: Certain.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You could have this facility, although, in your district, Dilley, and that’s for household detentions. That is the place little five-year-old Liam Ramos from Minnesota was held earlier than a decide, that is the image of him there, ordered him launched. He was ordered launched as a result of his household has a pending asylum declare, a authorized course of. He had entered with U.S. authorities permission by a course of that the Biden administration had deemed authorized. The present administration doesn’t. The CBPOne app. Liam’s father gave an interview to Telemundo and also you learn the transcript, he is speaking about this five-year-old. He is not okay. He is waking up at night time crying. He is anxious he will be taken once more. It is psychological trauma, based on the daddy. And the administration remains to be making an attempt to deport him. Do you perceive why they’re so centered on this five-year-old and his dad in the event that they did are available in by the entrance door with U.S. authorities permission?
REP. GONZALES: Nicely, the entrance door was through an app that Biden knew precisely what he was doing, and he created this big mess, and now President Trump is there to scrub up.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –but he got here within the entrance door, he wasn’t–
REP. GONZALES: –through an app–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –across the border–
REP. GONZALES: –through an app that wasn’t vetted. And backside line is, he is likely- they don’t seem to be going to qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all of the folks that undergo the method and don’t qualify for asylum? You deport them. I perceive the five-year-old and it, you realize, it breaks my coronary heart. I’ve a 5 12 months outdated at residence. I additionally assume, what about that five-year-old U.S. citizen–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –You are feeling snug defending that?
REP. GONZALES: I really feel comfortable- we’ve got to have a nation of legal guidelines. If we do not have a nation of laws–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –They had been following the- the legislation that is- that’s that is the rug, is {that a} new administration deemed the final administration’s regulation to not be authorized.
REP. GONZALES: We might be compassionate, and we will additionally, we will additionally implement our legal guidelines. And I believe that is the key sauce that the administration and Congress should do. Let’s implement our legal guidelines, however let’s do it in a humane approach. The ability in Dilley, I’ve visited there many occasions. I visited dozens of various amenities. It’s a good facility. It is a detention facility for those who are within the nation illegally, which can be about to be deported, however it’s a good facility, nicer than some elementary faculties right here in San Antonio.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Advocates have mentioned in any other case, however shortly, earlier than I allow you to go, a variety of Republican lawmakers have objected to the video that the president and his workers posted to his social media account, the one in all President Obama and the previous first woman. Do you assume he must apologize for it?
REP. GONZALES: There’s- it is as much as the president. There is not any room on this nation for racism, antisemitism, socialism, all of the isms must go.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you assume it was that.
REP. GONZALES: On the finish, abs- I imply, I believe it was very, very upsetting to lots of people, what- the a part of nobody’s speaking about that video is about election integrity. And so the majority of it was on election integrity. What I sus- which is a vital subject. What I think goes to occur is the White Home goes to, within the coming days, concern a memo on their, their, their coverage for this upcoming election. And I think director of nationwide intelligence goes to be on the heart of constructing that out and ensuring every- our- our midterm elections are protected and safe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However- and I do know the president claimed the video was credible, additionally claimed he had watched it, however then not seen that a part of it with the racist–
REP. GONZALES: –It was on the very finish, it was on the very finish for one second. It was actually weird–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –The president of the US and his workers, would not you count on that they really have a look at what they do earlier than they do it?
REP. GONZALES: The president of the US shouldn’t be worrying about all of the individuals which can be upset with him. If he is doing that, he isn’t maintaining our nation safe–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –However why–
REP. GONZALES: –I did recognize them taking it down. I did recognize him saying, hey, look, you realize, that should not have been on there, but–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Ought to the staffer who allegedly did it’s fired? Ought to there be penalties for one thing like that?
REP. GONZALES: –The president–
MARGAERET BRENNAN: –And do you assume that video is definitely credible?
REP. GONZALES: The president could make that call. We simply look- we simply had Jeffrie- you realize, Hakeem Jeffries, stand up there and say the F-word to the president. I imply, the course our politics goes shouldn’t be the suitable approach. We have to pull it again, and we have to go, wait a second right here. How can we be sure we’re protected? How can we be sure our financial system is prospering? How can we be sure People are higher off at present than they had been yesterday?
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, Congressman Gonzales, thanks in your time, and we’ll have David Becker forward. We’ll speak about that video in a second.
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