U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) voiced strong opposition Monday to a new federal initiative that would bring military presence to the U.S.-Mexico border, calling it an ineffective and expensive move that won’t address the real issues behind immigration.
The initiative, driven by former President Donald Trump, aims to establish a 60-foot-wide military zone along the southern border—stretching across California, Arizona, and New Mexico—to allow military personnel to detain migrants and hand them over to federal immigration authorities. Critics argue the plan could challenge federal law that prohibits the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement activities.
Vasquez, who represents New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, said deploying troops along the border was a misuse of defense resources, especially at a time when migrant crossings are at historic lows.
“This is not a solution to our immigration problems,” Vasquez said in a written statement. “As someone who has lived on the border all my life and worked directly with community members and stakeholders, I can confidently say that blanketed military action does not meet the unique needs of each region.”
He added that parts of the state, such as the Bootheel, wouldn’t benefit from a heavy military footprint and criticized the move as a “performative measure” rather than meaningful policy.
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The land Trump has ordered the military to use is known as the Roosevelt Reservation, a federally owned strip that runs along the southern edge of California, through Arizona, and into New Mexico near El Paso, Texas. Migrants crossing into this zone could be considered trespassers on military land and subject to detention, raising legal concerns over the military’s role in civilian law enforcement.
Vasquez emphasized that border policy should prioritize community input and serve economic and humanitarian interests.
“Instead of militarization, we should be investing in smart, targeted border security solutions that actually work for border towns, improve public safety, and support economic growth,” he said.
In addition to denouncing the border militarization, Vasquez recently joined 47 other lawmakers in signing a letter led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) urging the Department of Homeland Security to reopen key oversight offices that were shuttered in March. These include the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and the Immigration Detention Ombudsman.
Lawmakers expressed concern that the closures would erode transparency and accountability in DHS operations and cut off public access to report mistreatment, abuse, and other concerns related to immigration enforcement, including ICE raids and detention conditions.
Vasquez condemned the office closures and cited growing concerns about due process violations and deteriorating conditions for those in custody.
“Shutting down these oversight bodies undermines basic American values,” he said. “We must ensure humane treatment for all individuals, and that includes restoring channels for oversight and accountability.”
