U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) on Jan. 9 joined 84 of his Republican colleagues to introduce legislation that would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to continue to implement the Migrant Protection Protocols started under the first Trump administration.

The congressman signed on as one of 84 original cosponsors of the REMAIN in Mexico Act, H.R. 273, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX).

In 2019, then-President Donald Trump unveiled his Remain in Mexico policy, officially known as the migrant protection protocols, which allowed the U.S. government to return foreign individuals who illegally entered the U.S. through the southern border to Mexico to await immigration proceedings, according to information provided by Rep. Gonzales’ staff.

If enacted, H.R. 273 would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to reimplement the protocols in accordance with the 2019 Homeland Security memorandum titled “Policy Guidance for Implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols,” the information says.

“I have the honor and responsibility of representing the largest border district in Congress. All 29 counties I serve have been turned upside down by… President Biden’s disastrous border policies,” Rep. Gonzales said. “This was not the case when President Trump was in office. Americans were protected from this madness, and President Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy was a big reason for that success.

“That is why I am proud to help introduce the REMAIN In Mexico Act, which restarts this much-needed, common sense policy that puts Americans first,” added the congressman.

The measure, which currently has a total of 89 Republican cosponsors, has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.

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