Congressional candidates in New Mexico’s District Two have differing priorities for confronting immigration in the state. The Democratic incumbent, Gabriel Vasquez, advocates for a path to citizenship for foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally. He believes in reforming the immigration system to protect DREAMERS and provide hard-working families with a permanent path to citizenship while ensuring a safe and secure border. Vasquez’s campaign is focused on fixing the broken immigration system and the benefits that immigrant workers and families bring to the economy. However, Vasquez’s campaign did not respond to requests for comments on this issue.
On the other hand, the Republican candidate, Yvette Herrell, focuses on border security and law enforcement investments. Her campaign site outlines a plan to secure the border, support border patrol, invest in law enforcement, hold criminals accountable, and follow the law. Herrell has endorsed using public health expulsions to deport undocumented immigrants and former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. During her term in Congress, Herrell sponsored the Anti-Caravan Act, which aimed to impose criminal penalties on anyone assisting a large group of migrants crossing the United States border.
Vasquez has introduced a package of bills to address border security and conditions within migrant detention centers. These bills include the Smart Border Protection Act, aimed at increasing funding for Customs and Border Patrol agents and the technology used to screen people at the border. He also sponsored the Strengthening Our Workforce Act, which would allow migrants without permanent legal status and working in critical industries to apply for a temporary provisional status. However, neither bill made it past their respective committees, highlighting the challenges in passing immigration reform legislation.
Herrell’s campaign did not respond to a request for comments on her immigration policies. She has focused on advocating for border security and investments in law enforcement. Her past endorsements of public health expulsions and Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy suggest a strong stance on immigration enforcement. Title 42, a public health measure, and the “Remain in Mexico” policy were integral to the previous administration’s immigration policies but have since been discontinued under President Joe Biden.
The differing priorities on immigration between Vasquez and Herrell reflect the broader political divide on this issue. Vasquez advocates for a more comprehensive approach to immigration reform, focusing on pathway to citizenship and addressing the challenges faced by immigrant workers and families. Herrell, on the other hand, emphasizes border security and law enforcement investments, aligning with stricter immigration enforcement policies. The contrasting approaches highlight the complex nature of the immigration debate and the challenges in finding common ground on this issue at the congressional level. Ultimately, the outcome of the congressional race in New Mexico’s District Two could have significant implications for immigration policy in the region.
