De La Cruz Introduces Bill to Pay Border Patrol Agents During Government Shutdowns

Representative Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) has introduced a bill known as the Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025. The measure ensures that Border Patrol agents and officers from the Office of Field Operations will be paid during any government shutdowns in Fiscal Year 2025.

Since 2015 (when former President Trump seriously entered the race for the first time), the southern border has maintained a steady point of discussion amongst political candidates. However, record levels of illegal immigrants crossed into the United States during the Biden-Harris administration – prompting Vice President Harris (D) to support a border wall.

Rep. De La Cruz considers this piece of legislation the answer to an “unacceptable” reality that Border Patrol agents could be unpaid during government shutdowns.

“The brave men and women of Customs and Border Protection stand as our first line of defense, and it is unacceptable that they could go unpaid during a potential government shutdown while they continue to protect our borders,” said Congresswoman De La Cruz. “This bill guarantees that our Border Patrol and customs agents would receive their paychecks and not have to worry about keeping food on the table for their families as they work to keep our communities safe.”

Additionally, the state of Texas is seeing another politician gravitate toward the Representative, and Senate hopeful Colin Allred (D-TX) has released a campaign advertisement featuring the border wall and law enforcement, a measure he vehemently opposed in the past.

In the ad, Rep. Allred attacks his opponent, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), for voting against the bipartisan border bill that was shot down by Republicans earlier this year.

The deal would’ve allowed an influx of illegal immigrants into the country through the southern border but provided $20.23 billion for “operational needs and capabilities” as well as resources for the new border policies, according to CNN.

According to Fox News, in 2018, Rep. Allred told event attendees “If they build that racist wall, my generation is the one that will tear it down. You’re not going to have a wall in this country.”

According to a new University of Texas poll, Sen. Cruz is leading Rep. Allred by eight points.