Weslaco, TX (KRGV) — District 15 congressman-elect Bobby Pulido announced immigration reform will be his first priority when he takes office in January.

He said the issue hits close to home in the Rio Grande Valley because he has heard from families living in fear of being separated.

"We need to give DACA protection. Look, we need a pathway to citizenship. Period. And what we've seen is they kept kicking the can down the road before," Pulido said.

Democrats control both the House and Senate, but Pulido said he still plans to sit down with lawmakers across the aisle.

"My plan is to meet with them. Anything short of that, I can't tell you what my plan is because I know what I want, but it's not what I want, it's what we can get passed," Pulido said.

Pulido said his team held more than 500 community events during the campaign. He credited those face-to-face conversations with helping him connect with voters in Republican-leaning areas.

"We're definitely going to get out there in the communities and talk to them. That's absolutely in the plans, right? Because we ran a campaign based on that," Pulido said.

Pulido has spent decades traveling the country as a Tejano singer. Now he is preparing to trade the stage for a seat in Congress.

"I'm eternally grateful to everybody." Pulido said.

Pulido will be sworn in Jan. 3, and plans to head to Washington on Saturday to interview staff.

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