Sen. Cruz: ‘We Salute the Bravery, the Heroism, and the Sacrifice of Javier Vega’

HOUSTON, Texas - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today delivered remarks at the dedication ceremony to rename the Border Patrol's Sarita, Texas checkpoint in honor of slain Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega, Jr. Earlier in the day, Sen. Cruz participated in a roundtable with Dr. Guy Bailey, President of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and Dr. John Krouse, Dean of the School of Medicine.

Still photos of his visit may be viewed here.

At the Sarita checkpoint dedication ceremony, Sen. Cruz paid tribute to fallen Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega, Jr.

"In the last six years I've served in Senate, I have been incredibly privileged to know countless everyday heroes who call Texas home," Sen. Cruz said. "The brave men and women of the Border Patrol are no exception. They go out every day in dangerous territory, risking their lives to protect the safety and security of our communities, of our families, of our homes. Agent Vega lost his life doing what he had been doing all his life: protecting others. As a former U.S. Marine, he was drawn to the Border Patrol out of a sense of duty and patriotism. We salute the bravery, the heroism, and the sacrifice of Javier Vega, and the continuing service of his brothers and sisters in green."

During his visit at UTRGV, Sen. Cruz discussed the booming economy students are entering after college.

"Right now, we are seeing the results of an economy that's booming," Sen. Cruz said. "Students are graduating and entering a job market with higher wages, and more opportunity. We have the lowest unemployment in over 50 years. The lowest Hispanic unemployment ever recorded. The lowest African-American unemployment ever recorded. The lowest Asian-American unemployment ever recorded. The lowest unemployment for women in 70 years. Look, these are incredible results but we shouldn't be surprised."

###