WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) in a bipartisan letter encouraging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to ensure DHS law enforcement officers and agents receive immediate access to the COVID-19 vaccine and inquired about efforts to keep DHS law enforcement safe. Read the full letter here.

“As you know, DHS’s law enforcement officers are at significant risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their work with detained and vulnerable populations,” said the letter. “The recent growing surge in migrants crossing the southwest border has only amplified that risk. Since the beginning of pandemic, more than 8,000 CBP employees have tested positive for COVID, and 27 have died. A total of 9,686 ICE detainees have tested positive for COVID in the past year.”

“Given the significant risk to these critical frontline workers, particularly at this time with increased activity along the border, it is imperative that DHS quickly take action to vaccinate all DHS law enforcement officers and agents.”

“Our men and women at the border are now on the frontlines of two battles – the border crisis and the pandemic,” said Congressman Gonzales. “They should have every resource at their disposal to do their job and stay safe – that includes access to vaccines.”