NW New Mexico News

Vasquez Responds to GOP’s Anti-Immigrant Legislation that Falls Woefully Short

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), who represents 180 miles of the US-Mexico border, offered a strong rebuke of  H.R. 2, the Republican bill too extreme and unrealistic to pass Congress. Vasquez instead offered his support for bipartisan talks that tackle the nation’s broken immigration system and prioritizing humane immigration reform while keeping our borders safe.

This week, Rep. Vasquez is voting against H.R. 2. Rep. Vasquez proposed two amendments to the bill that would have increased border security at ports of entry and additionally, protected migrant farmworkers - Republicans rejected both amendments. As the representative of New Mexico’s entire southern border, Vasquez offers a unique perspective and lived experience to help fix the broken immigration system and keep our border safe. 

WATCH Rep. Vasquez’s full remarks here   

Rep. Vasquez said, “I come from a hardworking family. Every single one of us has had to work for every opportunity and for every paycheck. So I know what it means to live life in search of the American Dream.” Rep. Vasquez continued saying the bill “falls woefully short of who we are as Americans and what we're capable of. I believe in keeping our borders safe - and I also believe in an orderly, humane, and functional process for those seeking asylum or petitioning for residency in this country. This bill does neither.” 

Vasquez has vowed to work on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to the border crisis. Vasquez introduced an amendment to H.R. 2 to appropriate funds to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection scanners with a priority on fentanyl interdiction that help scan 100 percent of cargo at ports of entry. However, Republicans rejected all amendments to the bill. 

Separately, Vasquez led a call for supplemental appropriations to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. in a letter signed by members of the New Democrat coalition. The majority of illicit drugs come through ports of entry, where currently only 14 percent of cargo is scanned due to outdated technology. He also sent a letter to Speaker McCarthy and Leader Jeffries supporting true comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for those who meet certain requirements. 

As New Mexico’s border communities prepare for the end of Title 42, Vasquez called the Border Patrol El Paso Sector Chief Good as well as local mayors, including Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima and Deming Mayor Benny Jasso, to ensure there is full coordination between federal, state, and local officials to humanely respond to incoming migrants in the coming days and weeks. 

Vasquez pointed to notable failures within H.R. 2, including: 

• Fails to include a pathway to citizenship or work authorization for those who meet certain requirements, even when strict requirements like background checks are met. 
• Bans assistance to non-governmental organizations that assist migrants with legal help, shelter, aid, and coordinating transportation.  
• Deputizes local law enforcement to act as immigration enforcement agents, draining resources from more urgent public safety priorities. 
• Dismantles the American asylum system, which has provided refuge for immigrants, including most recently Ukranians, and other victims of persecution and violence globally.

Background:

Rep. Vasquez led 29 of members of the New Democrat Coalition in a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting supplemental funding to address fentanyl smuggling at ports of entry. The letter noted that the Republican budget would reduce border staffing by 2,400 agents at a time when investment in inspection should be increased. Specifically, the letter asked for:

1. Hiring an additional 500 CBP Officers at points of entry to increase the number of vehicles scanned at the border.
2. Expanding the DHS’ Fentanyl Abatement and Response Team (FAST) to better coordinate with state, local, and federal partners on disrupting fentanyl distribution networks.
3. Creating additional Transnational Criminal Investigative Units (TCIUs) to improve U.S. and host country ability to investigate TCOs.
4. Investing in equipment, training, and medication to protect frontline officers from TCO elements and accidental fentanyl exposure.
5. Expediting acquisition and placement of non-intrusive inspection technology to reduce fentanyl smuggling at ports of entry.

Full Letter Text can be found HERE.

Rep. Vasquez signed a letter led by Rep. Stanton (D-AZ) to Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Leader Hakeem Jeffries supporting bipartisan efforts on immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for those who meet certain requirements. The letter also asked for expedited screening and adjudications to help process migrants who arrive at the US border. 

Full Letter Text can be found HERE.

Rep. Vasquez introduced two amendments to H.R. 2 that would increase border security at ports of entry and help reform the H-2A program for migrant farmworkers. 

• The first amendment would have appropriated $305M to DHS to identify, procure, and deploy inspection capabilities like Non-Intrusive Inspection technology to detect illicit cargo, with a priority on fentanyl detection. TEXT
• The second amendment would have struck Sec. 815 that repeals current H-2A regulations and replaces it with Rep. Vasquez’s bill to require a GAO report on the H-2A visa program, that will study the impact that the program has on hiring domestic workers, identifying housing challenges for workers, and comparing wage rate requirements for guest and domestic workers, among other things. TEXT

Original source can be found here.