Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Chula Vista, sits down in an interview with Imperial Valley Press Staff Writer Alejandro Davila to talk about the border crossing project, future funding for the Salton Sea and more.
Jobs, opportunities for growth and comprehensive immigration reform are what U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas listed as his priorities in an interview Friday during his first visit to the Imperial Valley since he was sworn in to his new position earlier this month.
Vargas, D-San Diego, said jobs and opportunities for people are priorities “that we have not only for the Valley, but for San Diego and the whole nation.”
Vargas, the first Latino to represent the 51st Congressional District, also noted Imperial County’s high unemployment does ”require more help, especially with infrastructure.”
He also listed renewable energy and diversification as the solutions to the chronic nature of the Valley’s unemployment.
“So for example, the solar panels that we have now are ones that I think are very beneficial, but even more so is geothermal,” Vargas said.
“Geothermal is a resource here that is rather unique to this region,” he said noting that unlike wind turbines and solar panels, “geothermal runs 24 hours a day.”
“One of the other things that we are hoping to do is bring the F-35s here, the Joint Strike Fighter. … We think that that would create probably 4, 000 jobs at least,” he said.
Vargas also acknowledged that diversification has prompted some animosity in the Valley, “but I think it’s important that you diversify the economy down here, that it’s not just simply based in agriculture.”
Another aspect in Vargas’ agenda is a comprehensive immigration reform that addresses “everyone that is here undocumented.”
He advocates that illegal immigrants get “earned citizenship; earned in a way that if they haven’t paid their taxes they have to pay them.” However, those with criminal records shouldn’t be allowed to get citizenship, he said.
But this reform has to include everybody, not just dreamers, Vargas said while referring to the estimated 1.4 million immigrants who could meet the requirements of the so-called deferred action initiative. The deportation reprieve program gives work permits to certain immigrants.
“There are some Republicans who are coming around saying well that it should only be those dreamers, those kids that came here through not on their own volition, and that we should only deal with them,” said Vargas. “I would say no; that tackles 10 percent of the problem.”
Vargas, who met with the local leaders Friday to discuss border infrastructure funding, praised a recent state Assembly joint resolution urging the federal government to fund renovations for the San Ysidro and Calexico West port of entries.
But obtaining funding is going to be difficult, he said.
“Let’s not pretend that it’s not. However, all that being said, I’m going to make this argument and I think that you are going to see that it’s going to come to fruition.”
Vargas’s argument is that costs in China are accelerating at a much higher pace than in Mexico and that these costs will eventually meet those of Mexico causing an increase in manufacturing along the border; “and once that happens I think you are going to see even larger lines of trucks trying to cross (the border).”
Vargas is optimistic that funding for the Calexico West Port of Entry will be achieved but acknowledged he doesn’t know when that funding could materialize.
“I don’t want to make it up. The reality is I just got there (Washington, D.C.),” he said, “and secondly, I am surprised at the level of dysfunction that I found in Washington.”
As far as a public-private partnership, Vargas said that could be one solution to the lack of funding for the port of entry.
“If we get trapped at the border it’s going to be very problematic. I think we’ll miss out. (And) so we’ve got to figure out some way to develop this infrastructure and this might be the right way to do it.”
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