ICYMI: Rep. Vasquez Defends Luna County Ranchers’ Water Rights and Livelihoods on the House Floor
DHS Continues to Drill Deep, Unauthorized Wells in Luna County Without Regard for Ranchers, Permitting, or State Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 22, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) took to the House floor to condemn the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) reckless drilling of wells in Luna County that is stealing water ranchers desperately need.
“For generations, ranching families in this border community have relied on water from the Mimbres and Hachita Basins to sustain their herds and way of life. And when the feds needed water, they bought it or trucked it in. Then they said, ‘Why buy it, when we can steal it?’ Our ranchers follow the state’s water laws. DHS doesn’t, and it appears they don’t care.” said Vasquez.
Watch the full speech HERE.
Rep. Vasquez recently pressed the Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Agriculture for answers and action, stating in a letter, “I support securing our border. But it can be done without threatening ranchers, jeopardizing local water supplies, or ignoring the Americans who have stewarded this land for generations.”