Vasquez vows to fix visas and end Iran war if re-elected

New Mexico’s Second District representative Gabe Vasquez told NMPBS on Sunday that he would prioritize immigration reform and ending the war in Iran if voters keep him in his seat.

The interview aired as part of the New Mexico in Focus program. Vasquez, who has served two terms in the House, said both political parties have mishandled the immigration system. He cited his own grandmother as an example of the delay in the current visa process.

"It took her using a family visa petition, 16 years that it took her to get a visa the legal way," Vasquez said. He noted that asylum seekers received work authorization during the Biden administration, which frustrated many legal applicants. He described the situation as a failure by both parties to deliver results.

To address labor shortages, Vasquez introduced the Care Worker Visa Act. The bill would create 100,000 new visas for individuals who already live in the country without documentation or for family members petitioning for caregivers. Under the plan, a family could hire a worker for up to three years, after which the worker could achieve legal status.

Vasquez said the measure targets specific needs in New Mexico. He pointed to 15,000 children in the state who cannot access universal childcare due to a shortage of workers. He argued that expanding this visa category would help lower the cost of childcare, elder care, and disability support.

The representative also addressed his vote against President Trump’s recent major legislation. That vote resulted in tens of thousands of New Mexicans losing SNAP benefits. Vasquez stated that 10,000 children in the state no longer have access to food assistance through the program.

"That's $6 a day," Vasquez said, breaking down the value of the benefit. "That's a can of pinto beans. That's a small bag of tortillas, and that's maybe a can of green chile." He called the cut to child nutrition cruel and said House Democrats will use their committee roles to negotiate for the funds’ restoration.

On foreign policy, Vasquez said the immediate goal is to end the unauthorized war in Iran. He voted six times to stop the conflict, noting that more Republicans have joined that effort. He criticized the administration for starting the war without notice to Congress or allied nations.

Vasquez argued the war has raised costs for American taxpayers through higher prices for gas, diesel, and fertilizer. He said the federal government refuses to admit the total cost of the conflict, which he described as hundreds of billions of dollars.

To help residents facing high living costs, Vasquez said the district needs an end to the Iran war and a reduction in tariffs. He called for rebuilding trade relationships with Canada and Mexico to lower the price of goods for consumers and small businesses.