Vasquez marks DACA anniversary, calls for protections for Dreamers
The southern New Mexico congressman said more than 4,000 DACA recipients live in New Mexico and deserve certainty.
Organ Mountain News report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez marked the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Monday by calling for continued protections for Dreamers and a permanent pathway to citizenship.
Vasquez, D-N.M., said New Mexico is home to more than 4,000 DACA recipients who contribute to the state’s workforce, support local businesses and pay millions in state and local taxes.
“These folks are our neighbors, coworkers, business owners, and community leaders,” Vasquez said. “Most came to the United States through no choice of their own, and for 14 years they have worked hard, played by the rules, and contributed to the communities they call home.”
Vasquez said DACA recipients deserve certainty and a pathway to citizenship, not “fear, legal limbo, forced lapses in work authorizations and healthcare coverage, and the threat of deportation.”
The statement comes after Vasquez pressed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last month to address delays in DACA renewal processing. His office said renewal wait times have increased nearly 400% since 2025, putting recipients who filed on time at risk of losing work authorization and other protections.
“My office has seen a surge in requests from DACA recipients who did everything right but are now facing uncertainty because of government processing delays,” Vasquez said. “USCIS must act immediately to reduce these backlogs and ensure families aren’t punished for the Administration’s bureaucratic failures.”
Vasquez is a cosponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship. He also recently joined a bicameral effort urging the Department of Justice to preserve protections for DACA recipients in immigration proceedings.
Vasquez said he will continue pushing for immigration reforms that support families, strengthen the economy and provide certainty for Dreamers.
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