Congressman Gabe Vasquez presented immigration reforms in Washington D.C.
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A local leader in the borderland and three undocumented workers headed to Washington D.C. Thursday morning to introduce a series of bills to address the ongoing migrant surge across the U.S. - Mexico border.
Congressman Gabe Vasquez(D-N.M.), along with energy worker Jose Felix Alexis Rodriguez, home healthcare aide Maria de Jesus "Marichuy" Gallardo and a former truck driver and now leader of NM Cafe Jesus Cano Gutierrez, presented the congressman's "Common-Sense" Immigration and Border Bills.
The press conference was held at the House Triangle outside the U.S. Capitol and streamed and recorded on Congressman Vasquez's YouTube account @RepGabeVasquez.
Congressman Vasquez's immigration and border bill package includes:
- Strengthening our Workforce Act
- Stop Coyotes' Oppression and Organized Trafficking, and Ensure the Safety Act
- Smart Border Protection Act
- Humane Accountability Act
- Farm Workforce Support Act
In another press conference on Monday, Congressman Vasquez broke down each of the acts.
Strengthening our Workforce Act
The first of the five bills is the 'Strengthening Our Workforce Act' which Vasquez said would support providing a pathway to permanent residency for critical migrant workers.
The bill would allow migrants in 'critical industries' to apply for a two-year temporary provisional status.
After that probationary period, they would then be eligible for immediate adjustment of status to permanent residents.
Stop Coyotes' Oppression and Organized Trafficking, and Ensuring Safety Act
The second bill announced would address coyotes and cartels who traffic, sexually assault and kill migrant women and children.
“I’m proposing that we leverage higher penalties for those who are caught in human trafficking, for those who are caught human smuggling, and for those specifically who target minors," Vasquez said. “They have to be held accountable."
The bill would mandate up to a 10-year sentence on individuals who are convicted of committing human trafficking-related crimes against a minor within a certain radius of areas with high concentrations of children, in addition to any other sentence imposed.
Smart Border Protection Act
This bill works to invest in smart technologies at the border, additional personnel, and improve the quality of infrastructure at the ports of entry.
“More than 90% of the illicit drugs that come into this country particularly fentanyl are being caught at our porch of entry. This technology is a game changer," Vasquez said.
The bill would authorize additional funds to the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize hiring additional personnel at the ports of entry.
Humane Accountability Act
This bill would work to protect migrants from poor living conditions in detention centers, according to Vasquez.
"One of my bills provides the oversight and accountability to make sure that people that are in the process legally seeking asylum, that they are treated with dignity with humanity and with respect," Vasquez said.
The bill would mandate a report to Congress that addresses conditions within Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Officer of Refugee Resettlement migrant detention centers.
Farm Workforce Support Act
The last of the five bills would address a shortage of agricultural workers by supplying temporary visas while ensuring safe working and living conditions.
"We have to meet the demands of feeding our nation with common sense immigration policy that’s gonna help supply our agricultural farm workers to the farm needs of New Mexico," Vasquez said.