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Vasquez brags about voting against ‘Laken Riley Act’ at town hall

29 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By Piñon Post

New Mexico Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez is facing sharp criticism after touting his vote against the Laken Riley Act and attacking President Donald Trump’s immigration policies during an April 16 town hall event.

At the meeting, Vasquez proudly announced his opposition to the legislation, which was signed into law by Trump on January 29. “I did. I voted against [the bill],” Vasquez declared to cheers from the audience. He added, “Because due process is a fundamental part of who we are as Americans,” attempting to frame his opposition as a defense of constitutional rights — despite the clear public safety concerns the bill sought to address.

The Laken Riley Act was crafted following the brutal murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed while jogging in Athens, Georgia, by an illegal immigrant. The law requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal aliens arrested or charged with violent crimes, closing dangerous loopholes in immigration enforcement.

Vasquez’s comments did not stop there. He went on to criticize Trump’s deportation policies, specifically lamenting the removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a suspected MS-13 gang member and illegal immigrant. Vasquez claimed the deportations are “testing and stretching the fabric of our democracy to a place we have never seen before,” suggesting that American citizens could someday face similar removal if Trump’s policies are allowed to continue.

Meanwhile, data released by DHS in March shows Trump’s administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, leading to a 627% increase in monthly arrests compared to the Biden administration’s lax record the year prior. Vasquez’s comments have been picked up in the national press, including by Fox News.

Republicans swiftly pushed back on Vasquez’s stance. Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose district includes the largest stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, defended the Laken Riley Act, telling Fox News Digital, “Border security is a real and lasting issue as a result of four years of inaction under President Biden. That’s why Americans voted for safer communities and to restore law and order, and President Trump is delivering on that promise with legislation like the Laken Riley Act.”

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Zach Bannon also weighed in, slamming Vasquez’s repeated prioritization of illegal immigrants over American citizens. “Time and time again, out-of-touch Democrat Gabe Vasquez chooses to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over the well-being of hardworking New Mexicans,” Bannon said. “He’s completely abandoned common sense, pandering to the radical left while betraying the very people who will vote him out of office next year.”

Abrego Garcia, whom Vasquez defended, had been living in Maryland before his deportation to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) — a facility built to house violent gang members. He was previously pulled over in an SUV tied to another illegal immigrant arrested for human smuggling.

Under Trump’s leadership, immigration enforcement is once again being taken seriously — a sharp contrast to Vasquez’s radical pro-illegal immigration stance.

With public outrage growing over crimes committed by illegal immigrants, Vasquez’s celebration of his vote against the Laken Riley Act may well become a major liability heading into the 2026 election cycle.

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Vasquez promotes defunding ICE after vote against Laken Riley Act

Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez from the Second Congressional District has come under fire for using his taxpayer-funded congressional office to promote materials from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), an organization advocating for the defunding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Vasquez’s actions were highlighted just as he voted against the Laken Riley Act, a proposed measure aimed at bolstering border security. All three members of New Mexico’s delegation, including Vasquez, Teresa Leger Fernandez, and Melanie Stansbury, voted against the commonsense legislation.

Vasquez shared the NIJC’s “Know Your Rights” toolkit on his official congressional account. This resource, aimed at guiding undocumented migrants on avoiding deportation, includes strategies for identifying law enforcement officers and declining cooperation with immigration officials. Critics argue that these tactics enable migrants to evade lawful detention and deportation efforts.

The NIJC, whose mission includes dismantling ICE and CBP, is clear in its stance against immigration enforcement. Their social media campaigns, such as the “#DefundHate” initiative, call for an end to Title 42 and advocate for the release of detained individuals. Screenshots of their website and social media posts showcase their explicit coaching of migrants on circumventing federal law enforcement.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) quickly condemned Vasquez’s promotion of the NIJC’s toolkit. Ben Petersen, an NRCC spokesperson, stated, “Gabe Vasquez betrayed voters and showed he’ll never secure the border. New Mexicans demand a representative who will secure the border, not this radical using his office to aid and abet illegal migrants.”

Petersen’s remarks underscore the NRCC’s position that Vasquez’s alignment with organizations like the NIJC undermines national security and contradicts his responsibility as a public official.

Vasquez’s promotion of the NIJC’s materials comes at a time when border communities in New Mexico are grappling with increased migration and strained resources. Critics argue that by opposing the Laken Riley Act, Vasquez signaled a lack of commitment to addressing these challenges. The bill, aimed at enhancing enforcement and border infrastructure, has received support from border-state Republicans seeking more robust measures to manage migration.

Supporters of Vasquez, however, claim that the NIJC toolkit is an essential resource for migrants seeking to understand their rights under U.S. law. They argue that ensuring humane treatment and protecting constitutional rights does not equate to endorsing illegal activity.

Vasquez’s promotion of the NIJC toolkit and his voting record on immigration enforcement have sparked questions about where his priorities lie and how they align with the needs of his district, especially as he attempted to rebrand himself as moderate during the last election.