U.S. Rep. Evans' family immigration backstory under scrutiny
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Gabe Evans in 2024. Photo: AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton) has misrepresented his family's immigration story, with federal documents suggesting his grandfather lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years without authorization, according to a report from Newsline.
Why it matters: The report states the congressman from Colorado's 8th District had at least one undocumented family member with a criminal arrest record — the kind of immigrant Evans has publicly supported deporting.
- Evans is an ardent backer of President Trump's plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
Between the lines: The congressman alluded to his family history during an interview with Axios last month when discussing his call for ICE to deprioritize detaining immigrants who aren't suspected of crimes.
- "We got to be able to work on how we streamline the process for folks like my family," Evans told us last month, adding he wanted to make the process "somewhat manageable and functional."
Catch up quick: Documents obtained by Colorado Newsline — and not obtained or reviewed by Axios — through archival research and records requests reportedly show Evans' grandfather, Cuauhtemoc Chavez, arrived in the U.S. unauthorized at age 5 in 1929, along with his mother and siblings.
- Chavez lived in Texas for 12 years without authorization to be in the U.S., Colorado Newsline reported.
- Chavez was arrested for an "immigration violation" in El Paso when he was 16 and subject to deportation proceedings, and was the target of a prior arrest for "attempted burglary."
Context: The lawmaker has mentioned his grandfather in past interviews discussing policy, and even referenced him in a campaign video for his 2023 congressional campaign.
- Evans has repeatedly stated that Chavez earned his U.S. citizenship after serving in the U.S. Army.
What they're saying: Axios reached out to Evans' campaign but was referred to his comments to CPR News. "I think I've always talked about doing it the 'right way,' which is in reference to the fact that [my grandfather] joined the military and served his country," he told the outlet.
The other side: "Under the immigration policies [Evans] wants, his own grandpa would have been deported," the Colorado Democratic Party's X account posted Thursday.
What's next: Evans is seeking reelection in the hypercompetitive 8th Congressional District, a sprawling area stretching north of Denver toward Greeley.