Immigration dominates 8th Congressional District debate
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U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Democratic, left, and Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans participated in a debate in Denver Oct. 8. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post
The tension simmering along the U.S.-Mexico border crept into Colorado's most competitive congressional race on Tuesday night.
The big picture: Immigration dominated a live debate between U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Democrat, and her Republican challenger, state Rep. Gabe Evans, who are vying to represent the 8th Congressional District.
Why it matters: Colorado voters care deeply about addressing immigration, a decisive issue in this congressional race and in one of the closest presidential races in American history.
Context: Tuesday's 30-minute debate hosted and aired by local NBC affiliate 9News focused on the suburban Denver district that Caraveo won by a slim margin in 2022.
- Abortion, the economy and corporal punishment were also discussed.
What they're saying: Evans says he wants to secure the Southern border, create a path for people who want to "legally" immigrate to the U.S., and target undocumented immigrants who commit crimes by deporting them.
Yes, but: He did not directly answer whether he supports former President Trump's plan for mass deportations of people in the U.S. illegally.
- Though Trump endorsed Evans during the Republican primary, Evans says he's not been invited to join the Republican presidential nominee for a campaign rally in Aurora scheduled for Friday.
Between the lines: Evans did not say whether he would join Trump if invited.
Meanwhile, Caraveo says legislation she's introduced in Congress is helping secure the Southern border and stopping fentanyl from reaching Colorado.
- She says she supports federal funding for cities like Denver that provide services to migrants.
The intrigue: The congresswoman criticized Trump for killing a bill that would have blocked people crossing the border illegally from asylum once migrant encounters reached a certain threshold.
- It's a bill Caraveo says she would have supported and Evans says he opposes.
Zoom in: Caraveo says her decision to formally condemn Vice President Kamala Harris this summer for her handling of the Southern border was based on her constituents' views.
- The congresswoman says she would not support a bill divesting money from federal immigration enforcement agencies, and says local police "should not be enforcing laws that the federal government has not reformed."
- Caraveo did not directly answer whether she still supports a 2021 bill she sponsored allowing the state to give contracts to companies knowingly employing people without proper work authorization.
What they're saying: Evans — whose grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico — did not directly oppose Trump's dehumanizing language about immigrants, saying he "always condemned racist statements."
What's next: The two candidates are scheduled to meet again during a debate hosted by CBS Colorado on Oct. 18.