Welch: “This is all part of a radical crusade against immigration.” 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, emphasized how the Trump Administration’s efforts to alter the rights of naturalized citizens is part of a broader anti-immigrant agenda that has violently clamped down on Americans exercising their constitutional rights. Ranking Member Welch also highlighted how the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda is causing fear and harm in communities across the country. 

“The administration has—it is absolutely clear—a very radical goal, and that is mass deportation of immigrants from our country. This includes Dreamers, DACA recipients, folks here legally. And I oppose that. It’s doing real damage to our country. And as part of that effort, we’ve seen the abusive lengths that this administration is willing to go: the violence in Minnesota—that’s receded. But the cruelty of these policies to create fear and anxiety include targeting of legal immigrants,” said Senator Welch. “The Trump Administration has violently clamped down on Americans exercising their constitutional rights. In Minnesota, of course, we saw the killing of two people: a 37-year-old nurse; 37-year-old mother. Immigration agents have detained U.S. citizens, including a Vermonter—a respected principal, Wilmer Chavarria—a school superintendent who was pulled out of a Houston airport and told: ‘You have no rights here.’”  

Senator Welch continued: “The White House has turned to pulling every bureaucratic lever that the White House has, within its considerable power—cutting off immigrants from jobs, financial services, medical care, tax credits, and daycare. There was a woman, an immigrant from El Salvador, legally in this country, providing janitorial services at the Boston airport—a job she revered. It gave her life dignity and she did it well. Last year the administration had her fired, declaring that because of her legal immigration status, she could not carry out the work she had done for almost three decades.  

“This is all part of a radical crusade against immigration. It’s not about securing the border—we’re for that. It’s not about deporting criminals—we’re for that. It’s about going after people, including folks here legally, and I absolutely oppose that.” 

Read Senator Welch’s opening statement here and watch his full remarks below: 

Read a key excerpt from Senator Welch’s remarks: 

“This is all part of a radical crusade against immigration. It’s not about securing the border—we’re for that. It’s not about deporting criminals—we’re for that. It’s about going after people, including folks here legally, and I absolutely oppose that,” said Senator Welch. “We should be tough on fraud. But expanding denaturalization is not in furtherance of that goal in this administration. It’s intended to create fear in our communities, to prevent people who are legally here from showing up to school, working, or seeing doctors.” 

Senator Welch continued: “In April, I attended a naturalization ceremony back in Vermont. And I think a lot of my colleagues have done that in their states. It’s one of the most ennobling and inspiring experiences that we can have: to see a person who, by choice, has undertaken the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. They see it as a responsibility, and they put in years of hard work in order to achieve that status. So yes, where there’s fraud, where there’s lying, and that is the basis upon which a person received a citizenship certificate, take it away. But [do] not use this process to add to the attack on people, so many of whom are here legally.”  

Peter Spiro, Professor of Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law, testified on behalf of the Democratic minority. Witnesses for the Republican majority included Kenneth Cuccinelli II, Senior Fellow for Immigration and Homeland Security at the Center for Renewing America, and George Fishman, Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies. 

Read and watch an excerpt from Ranking Member Welch’s exchange with Professor Spiro: 

Sen. Welch: The number of cases that have been prosecuted for denaturalization historically, under Republican and Democratic administrations, has been really quite small, correct? 

Professor Spiro: Exceedingly small. 

Sen. Welch: Alright. That’s my concern, Mr. Chairman, because I do think there’s a lot of other activities that are going on in this whole immigration debate that we’ve had in this country where we need more attention…But where I have this confidence, and under existing law, a person who commits fraud—and that includes by omission, not affirmatively acknowledging their terrorist sympathies—they can be denaturalized. And then, once that person becomes a citizen, they’re subject to the full force of the law, and that includes going to jail forever. Is that right? 

Professor Spiro: Yes, Senator. 

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In April, Senator Welch celebrated with new United States citizens, their families and loved ones, and Vermont leaders at a Naturalization Ceremony held in Barre.  

Senator Welch has been at the forefront of efforts pushing back on the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign and anti-immigrant agenda. The Senator has pushed back on the false narrative that “sanctuary city” policies impede on local law enforcement and jeopardize public safety, and refuted the president’s executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, a constitutional right granted under the Fourteenth Amendment. Senator Welch has also condemned the escalating chaos and violence from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers under President Trump. 

Additionally, Senator Welch is a cosponsor of the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act, legislation to prevent inexperienced temporary immigration judge appointments, and the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure DHS allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. Senator Welch has also repeatedly called on President Trump to halt its continued targeting of lawful permanent residents and citizens who express views opposing the administration, including Vermonters Mahmoud Khalil and Steven Tendo. 

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