Congressmen Gonzales, Cuellar Bring Focus to Rising Customs & Border Patrol Suicide Rates with Bipartisan Effort


“14 Border Patrol agents committed suicide this year. That is more than any other year since 2007, when CBP first started tracking suicides."

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas WASHINGTON D.C.— Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) held a bipartisan press conference earlier today in honor of the 14 fallen U.S. Customs Officers & Border Protection (CBP) Agents who have committed suicide this year. The congressmen focused on the importance of increasing funding and access to mental health resources at CBP.
 
  • Watch the full press conference here.

“These 14 CBP agents who have taken their own life are not numbers on a paper. These are real people impacted. Their families have been turned upside down,” said Congressman Gonzales.

“In Washington there's a lot of division, but there's also things that should unite us. I am thankful for each and every member from both sides of the aisle who came out today to raise awareness on this critical issue,” Gonzales said.
 
“As a lifelong resident of the border, I know firsthand the value of Border Patrol agents and their important role in keeping border communities safe. They are our neighbors, our friends, and our family,” said Congressman Cuellar.

“14 Border Patrol agents committed suicide this year. That is more than any other year since 2007, when CBP first started tracking suicides. As a senior Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I have worked with Congressman Tony Gonzales to deliver $23 million in FY22, and an additional $23 million in FY23 to address behavioral health challenges within CBP. That was on top of added language to ensure CBP employees who utilize behavioral health services are not adversely affected solely by their request for assistance.

"I look forward to continue working with Congressman Tony Gonzales and this bipartisan group in the 118th Congress to deliver more resources for the men and women in green across South Texas," said Cuellar.

Other press conference participants included:
 
  • Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council
  • Cong. Mayra Flores (R-TX-34)
  • Cong. Susie Lee (D-NV-03)
  • Cong. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11)
  • Cong. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-08)
  • Cong. Darren Soto (D-FL-09), and
  • Congresswoman-Elect Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-14)














 
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