Latest news with #GabeEvans
CBS News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Colorado Congressman Gabe Evans tells ICE don't waste resources on immigrants with no criminal record
Gabe Evans tells ICE not to waste resources on immigrants with no criminal record Gabe Evans tells ICE not to waste resources on immigrants with no criminal record Gabe Evans tells ICE not to waste resources on immigrants with no criminal record U.S. Representative Gabe Evans (Col-R) is urging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to focus on arresting and deporting dangerous criminals. U.S. Congressman Gabe Evans (Col-R) CBS Evans and five other U.S. House Republicans -- all members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference -- sent a letter to the interim director of ICE warning him not to use "limited resources to pursue individuals that do not constitute a threat to public safety." "We just have to make sure now that we're a few months into the new administration that we're keeping the focus where it needs to be," Evans told CBS Colorado. Evans says, based on ICE's own records from last summer, there were nearly 660,000 undocumented immigrants in the U.S. with criminal records, including 13,000 convicted murderers. "The focus from a public safety, from a national security lens must remain on deploying all available resources to find these 600,000 plus criminals." Last month, the Trump administration told ICE to shoot for 3,000 arrests per day. Critics say that's led to agents casting too wide of a net to meet the quota. Based on government data obtained by CBS News, ICE is over capacity with about 59,000 people in custody. Forty-seven percent of them have no criminal record. But Evans says the ICE facility in Colorado is a different story. It has room for 1,500 detainees and has about 1,300 in custody. Homeland Security data shows 57% of them have been convicted or charged with crimes; 27% have received deportation orders from immigration judges. The rest are considered a flight or safety risk said Evans, who visited the facility last week. "So the same way that we treat American citizens, you go through that risk analysis and then figure out from a public safety or a flight perspective do we need to keep this person in custody pending final removal," Evans said. Evans says not every undocumented immigrant should be deported. His grandfather crossed the border illegally and then earned his citizenship by serving in World War II. "We have got to have a viable pathway forward, a workable pathway forward for people like my family that want to come to the United States, work hard, raise their families, live the American dream," Evans said. Evans admits current laws don't provide that pathway. Stay tuned," Evans said. "I'll drop a little teaser here. We're doing a lot of work in that, and this is a continuing conversation that I'm sure we'll continue to have in the next couple of weeks and months." Evans says he is not aware of any raids on businesses or farms in Colorado. He says, unless the raids are associated with criminal activity, he doesn't support them. It's estimated, ICE has deported about 100,000 people so far this year. Evans and his congressional colleagues asked the interim director of ICE how many had criminal convictions, what crimes they were convicted of, whether their countries of origin are cooperating, and if he needs additional resources to focus on the 660,000 criminals it's identified. They gave the director until Monday to respond.
Fox News
19-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Blue state GOP lawmakers urge major healthcare change for illegal immigrants
EXCLUSIVE: Colorado congressional Republicans are asking the state to stop allowing illegal immigrants to enroll in the state's Medicaid program, Health First Colorado. The program's availability to those in the country illegally who meet other requirements for coverage started this year, and the Republicans pitched changes in a letter to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis Wednesday. On Health First Colorado's website, it says, "Don't let immigration status stop you from applying for health coverage," citing state law. "Other Democrat-run states like California and Minnesota are beginning to walk back their policies that offer free and subsidized health care to illegal immigrants even without the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being law because they know that these policies are expensive, bad deals for their Medicaid beneficiaries," the letter from representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Crank and Lauren Boebert states. "It is disheartening to see Colorado continue to double down and prioritize individuals who are unlawfully present even in the face of adverse impacts on Americans who need Medicaid the most, and we urge you to reverse course," the Republicans added. As the letter notes, Colorado is one of seven states that offer public healthcare coverage that does not factor in one's immigration status. California, Minnesota and Illinois are making reforms to their Medicaid offerings, according to The Wall Street Journal. Minnesota and Illinois are ending the availability as part of budget deals, and California is navigating different options, like a possible enrollment freeze, as its legislature hashes out a budget. In California, a recent poll revealed nearly 60% oppose Medicaid for illegal immigrants despite the law going into effect last year. The lawmakers added that the reconciliation bill includes a provision that will significantly penalize states that provide coverage to illegal immigrants because the Medicaid programs receive both federal and state taxpayer dollars. "There is a renewed urgency to revise this policy in light of the likely enactment of federal legislation to reduce the Medicaid [Federal Medical Assistance Percentage] for the expansion population from 90% to 80% for sanctuary states who use taxpayer dollars to cover illegal immigrants. As you know, this change would pose significant budgetary challenges to Colorado – but only if the state continues to pursue this policy," the letter states. A spokesperson for Polis' office told Fox News Digital in a statement that the reconciliation bill in the U.S. Senate should be completely redone from the House version. "Governor Polis is disappointed these three lawmakers are trying to gut Medicaid and kick people off private insurance, which would raise insurance costs for everyone who buys commercial insurance because of cost-shifting. Thanks to their votes — which they're trying to distract from — nearly 400,000 Coloradans would lose health care, which would also raise costs for everyone else," the statement said. "Governor Polis continues calling on the Senate to start from scratch with this terrible bill, including truly protecting Medicaid and extending critical subsidies for those who purchase plans off the health exchange so Coloradans can afford health care."
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fewer than 1 in 4 Colorado voters support Medicaid cuts
(Stock photo by) Just 21% of Colorado voters want Congress to decrease Medicaid spending, according to a poll released Tuesday. Concerns about gutted health care access come as U.S. Senate Republican leaders work to push through a tax and spending bill that would cut Medicaid by an estimated $625 billion over the next decade. The poll zeroed in on the 8th Congressional District, which includes the northern Denver metro area and parts of Weld County. In the district, where 1 in 4 residents receive Medicaid benefits, 63% of voters said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who voted to cut Medicaid. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The 8th District is represented by Republican Gabe Evans, who voted in favor of the plan that would reduce federal Medicaid spending when it was brought to the U.S. House of Representatives in May. A spokesperson for Evans defended the vote, saying a proposed provision to institute part-time work requirements for some people to retain Medicaid eligibility would make 'the program more efficient by cutting out fraud, waste, and abuse.' 'Congressman Gabe Evans has been steadfast in his support of protecting Medicaid for the vulnerable populations it was created to serve — pregnant women, kids, and disabled people,' said spokesperson Delanie Bomar in a statement Tuesday. Evans, who was elected to the House last year, represents one of the country's few congressional swing districts. According to the poll, 42% of voters in the district want to see increased federal Medicaid spending, 20% want it to stay about the same and 28% want it to decrease. Medicaid, the state-federal health care program for lower-income people and some with disabilities, serves more than 70 million U.S. residents. The poll of 675 registered Colorado voters was conducted by Broomfield-based firm Magellan Strategies on behalf of the nonprofit Healthier Colorado. It has a margin of error of 3.7%. 'Politicians are saying that they want to cut Medicaid to make it better, but the poll shows clearly that voters aren't buying what they're selling,' said Jake Williams, CEO of Healthier Colorado. 'It shows that there's real political peril for any candidate who votes to cut Medicaid.' Bomar pointed to the poll's findings that many respondents, especially those who are Republicans or unaffiliated, said Medicaid 'should only be for U.S. citizens or legal residents, with some calling for stricter eligibility enforcement.' Immigrants who are in the U.S. unlawfully are not eligible for federal Medicaid benefits, but Colorado and 13 other states provide some state-funded coverage to immigrants lacking permanent legal status. Under the proposed federal cuts, an estimated 7.8 million people, most of them citizens or lawful residents, would lose access to Medicaid, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Some of the main reasons cited in the poll by respondents who said they have favorable opinions of Medicaid are the benefits it provides to low-income Coloradans, seniors, children, people with disabilities and single parents. 'The poll shows that Medicaid cuts would have devastating effects for both our health and economy here in Colorado,' Williams said. 'I also think it shows that Colorado voters aren't dummies.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New York Post
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
113 House Democrats vote against GOP resolution denouncing the antisemitic terrorist attack in Colorado
More than 100 House Democrats voted against a Republican-led resolution condemning the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder and Colorado's sanctuary state laws on Monday. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), cleared the lower chamber in a 280-113 vote, with 75 Democrats joining Republicans to pass the measure. Democrats fumed over language in the resolution expressing 'gratitude to law enforcement, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland.' 3 House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks with reporters about the spending and tax bill embraced by President Donald Trump and Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, June 6, 2025. AP The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm, charged that Democrats voting against the bill 'sided with terrorists over police officers and flat-out refused to condemn antisemitism.' 'Democrats have become the pro-terrorist, anti-cop, antisemitic caucus. And they're proud of it,' the NRCC wrote on X. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) slammed Evans as a 'joke' ahead of the vote. 'Who is this guy? He's not seriously concerned with combating antisemitism in America. This is not a serious effort,' Jeffries told reporters. 'Antisemitism is a scourge on America. It shouldn't be weaponized politically.' Evans shot back that the 'wildly offensive sentiment' expressed by Jeffries is 'why antisemitism persists.' 3 This image provided by the Boulder Police Dept. shows Mohamed Sabry Soliman. AP 'The Left is unserious about finding real solutions,' the congressman argued on X. 'Condemning terrorism is not a joking matter.' Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), who is Jewish and voted no on the resolution, argued on the House floor that the measure was being put forward to simply 'score political points.' 'You weren't here, Mr. Evans, last term, but there were about 10 antisemitism resolutions that effectively said the same thing solely to score political points,' Goldman said. 'We Jews are sick and tired of being used as pawns.' 3 Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton, speaks to reporters during a news conference on the steps of the Colorado Capitol in Denver on Thursday, May 29, 2025. In his floor speech, Evans stated: 'As a former police officer and Army veteran of the Global War on Terror, I know how Colorado's radical leftists leaders and laws prioritize illegal immigrants over public safety — allowing antisemitic terrorists like Mohammed Sabry Soliman to strike.' Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, allegedly used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower during the June 1 attack targeting peaceful marchers who were calling for the release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza. Fifteen people were injured in the firebombing, during which Soliman allegedly shouted, 'Free Palestine.' 'The passing of my resolution ensures we condemn all acts of antisemitism and affirms that the free and open collaboration between state and local law enforcement with their federal counterparts is key in preventing future attacks like this,' the congressman continued. A separate resolution introduced by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), who more generally denounced the uptick in antisemitic attacks in the US, passed in a 400-0 vote.
Axios
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
113 House Democrats vote against GOP resolution condemning Boulder attack
A Republican resolution condemning the Boulder attack passed the House on Monday, despite 113 Democrats voting "no." Why it matters: Democrats had major issues with the language in the measure, including a line expressing "gratitude" to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for "protecting the homeland." Another passage that raised Democratic ire — labeling "Free Palestine" an "antisemitic slogan" — was stripped out before the vote. Driving the news: The measure, introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), passed by a 280-113 margin, with 113 Democrats and zero Republicans voting against it. It came to the floor under a process called "suspension of the rules" which is meant to fast-track legislation that is bipartisan enough to attain the necessary two-thirds majority. In addition to the language in the bill, Democrats were rankled that a bipartisan resolution introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) — who represents Boulder — was passed over for Evans' party-line resolution. What they're saying: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), asked about the measure during a press conference on Monday afternoon, tore into it as "not a serious effort." Evans, he said, is a "joke" and a "complete and total embarrassment" who is "not even pretending to be moderate" despite representing a swing district. Jeffries also pointed to opposition from "every major Jewish organization," including the American Jewish Committee. The other side: "Congressman Gabe Evans' bipartisan resolution condemns terrorism, denounces antisemitism, and supports law enforcement," Evans spokesperson Delanie Bomar told Axios in a statement.
