WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to condemn the escalating chaos and violence from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers under President Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership. In his remarks, Senator Welch recounted stories of people who have faced ICE’s violence and brutality firsthand and called for Congress to candidly assess the impact of the Trump Administration’s violent mass deportation policy. 

“Homeland Security got $75 billion from Congress—not from votes on our side—but it was really what allowed for this mass round-up of people from workplaces, from farms, from schools. All in service of a political agenda that is not about protecting Americans but is serving the political interests of the president and the fiendish design of Stephen Miller with the implementation of a reckless Kristi Noem,” said Senator Welch. 

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below and read his full remarks as delivered here. 

Senator Welch has been an outspoken voice opposing Secretary Noem’s leadership of the Department of Homeland Security. The Senator called for Noem’s resignation in July, citing her mishandling of FEMA and handling of President Trump’s cruel and illegal mass deportation campaign. Earlier this month, Senator Welch led his colleagues in demanding Noem resign as Secretary, and has said she should be fired or impeached by Congress if she refuses. 

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