 Immigrants bring invaluable talent and energy to communities in New Mexico and across the United States. Many leave everything they love behind in search of a better life for their families. They care for our elderly, pick and prepare our food, and are incredible entrepreneurs making our economy stronger and more vibrant. Indeed, we know that immigration boosts the U.S. economy and will grow our economy by more than $7 trillion over the next decade. Yet, our immigration system is broken. It provides few—and sometimes impossible—options to attain lawful immigration status. I believe we must pass comprehensive immigration reform so that our country can remain that beacon of hope and maintain and improve border security. I am a strong supporter of the U.S. Citizenship Act. If enacted, this legislation would create an earned path to citizenship, address the root causes of migration that cause people to flee their countries, and enhance effective border security and drug interdiction technology. I am also working with my colleagues to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to support migrant farmworkers. In addition, we need to make sure that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients get the protections they need. I continue to work closely with my Congressional Hispanic Caucus to do just that. I also want to protect families across New Mexico from the proliferation of fentanyl and other illicit drugs that come across our borders. That’s why I have voted for, and strongly support, robust funding for Department of Defense drug interdiction and counter-drug programs. I have also voted to require Customs and Border Protection to issue a strategic plan that addresses resource needs, including technology and staffing needs, to identify, assess, and remediate illicit cross-border tunnels that cartels may use for human smuggling and drug trafficking. Having adequate resources at our borders is vital. To assist with an influx of migrants at our southern border, I voted for robust funding to hire 22,000 Border Patrol Agents and an additional 150 Customs and Border Protection Officers to effectively process migrants at ports of entry. To help our law enforcement at our borders, I have also supported major investments in innovative technology at ports of entry. Comprehensive immigration reform, addressing the root causes of migration, and effectively managing our borders must all move forward together to best improve our system. |