Former ICE Agent Victor Avila Challenges Rep. Tony Gonzales in Texas Amid GOP Censure

Victor Avila in an interview with The Epoch Times at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas in 2021. Screenshot via The Epoch Times

Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent Victor Avila is challenging Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) in the upcoming election.

Avila, who announced his run on Twitter on Monday, has grown in name recognition due to appearances in the media, his work on legislation, and his book, “Agent Under Fire,” about his experience being the target of Mexican cartel hitmen.

Avila has made a number of appearances at political events and in the media, making his stance on border security clear. The retired ICE special agent told Fox News host Tucker Carlson in early 2019 that border security is “personal” to him, having worked on the border and in Mexico.

“I’ve worked on the border. I was born and raised there,” Avila said. “I was attacked, and Jaime Zapata lost his life ... right next to me, while we were on assignment in Mexico.”

Gonzales has also been in the news, making headlines on Saturday when the Republican Party of Texas censured him for his stance on gun legislation, same-sex marriage, and his vote against the House rules package.

The Texas GOP’s executive committee voted overwhelmingly to censure Gonzales due to his support for the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” in the summer of 2022, which subsidized red flag laws.

He also supported the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires that same-sex marriages be recognized at the federal level.

Additionally, the state GOP called out the lawmaker for failing to support the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023.

Gonzales was also the only Republican in January to vote against a House rules package brought in by the new Republican majority.

“The Republican Party of Texas officially censured Representative Tony Gonzales today, imposing the full set of penalties allowed by the rules, for lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities,” the Texas GOP said in a press release.

Avila’s Credentials

Avila, a retired Supervisory Special Agent, formerly served with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ICE, overall, is responsible for enforcing federal laws related to border control, customs, trade, and immigration with the aim of promoting homeland security and public safety.

During his tenure as a special agent at the El Paso field office and as an assistant attaché assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez—as well as U.S. embassies situated in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico City—Avila earned recognition from both ICE and HSI for his exceptional service and professional accomplishments.

The Epoch Times was unable to reach Gonzales for comment.