Vasquez visits Las Cruces to spotlight food access, LGBTQ+ rights and college pathways

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez visited Las Cruces on June 16, meeting with food pantry workers, LGBTQ+ leaders and Upward Bound students while reaffirming his support for threatened federal programs.

Vasquez visits Las Cruces to spotlight food access, LGBTQ+ rights and college pathways
(Courtesy photo / Rep. Gabe Vasquez)

The congressman met with first-gen students, pantry workers and LGBTQ+ advocates — vowing to protect federal programs from funding cuts

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - On June 16, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez visited Las Cruces to spotlight a trio of issues affecting rural and underserved communities in southern New Mexico: food insecurity, LGBTQ+ rights and access to higher education.

“Families in Hatch shouldn’t have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. LGBTQ+ communities deserve to live with dignity and without fear, and every student — no matter their zip code — should have a real pathway to higher education,” Vasquez said. “At a time when federal investments in New Mexico are on the chopping block, I’m not sitting on the sidelines. I’m showing up, listening closely and fighting for the resources, respect and opportunities our communities deserve.”

Rep. Gabe Vasquez met with employees from Slim’s Food Pantry on Monday, June 16, 2025.(Courtesy photo / Rep. Gabe Vasquez)

Vasquez began the day at Slim’s Food Pantry, which received FY2024 Community Project Funding to construct a permanent facility in rural Doña Ana County. Amid proposed cuts to SNAP and other federal nutrition programs, Vasquez stressed the need to safeguard food access for working families.

He later met with students from the 2025 Summer Aggie Academy, part of NMSU’s TRIO Upward Bound Program, which supports nearly 100 first-generation and low-income students from school districts in Alamogordo, Gadsden, Las Cruces and Hatch Valley.

Speaking about his own experience as a first-generation Mexican-American college student, Vasquez encouraged the young participants to pursue their educational goals and affirmed his continued support for TRIO, which faces potential funding threats.

Rep. Gabe Vasquez spoke to TRiO students at NMSU on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Courtesy photo / Rep. Gabe Vasquez)

The day concluded with an LGBTQ+ advocacy roundtable, where Vasquez heard from local organizers about increasing attacks on civil rights protections, gender-affirming care, HIV services and reproductive health. He expressed solidarity with those at risk and pledged to fight discriminatory policies in Congress.

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