Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) objected on the Senate floor to Democratic immigration legislation that he argued would convert temporary protected status into a pathway to permanent legal residency and citizenship, while also limiting immigration enforcement and expanding eligibility for those previously removed from the United States.
“Reserving the right to object, mr. President, I object to this mass amnesty bill,” Schmitt said as he opened his remarks.
The Missouri senator contrasted the proposal with legislation considered the previous week.
“Last week, Democrats asked the Senate to extend Haitian temporary protected status. Today, they dropped the quotation marks.”
According to Schmitt, the legislation would fundamentally change the purpose of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
“Instead of extending temporary status, this legislation would convert temporary would convert temporary status into permanent status, green cards, permanent settlement.”
He argued that previous extensions of TPS concealed what he believes was the program’s long-term objective.
“At least the bill last week continued the same old Washington lie.”
Schmitt continued, “Today, Democrats finally admit what this scheme was always designed to be: temporary was always meant to be permanent.”
Calling the legislation “the final stage of the scam,” Schmitt described what he believes is a recurring pattern in Democratic immigration policy.
“That’s how Democrats do mass amnesty.”
He outlined what he characterized as a multi-step process.
“First, they declare an emergency, then they import hundreds of 1000s of people, they then extend the program over and over and over, then they unleash activist lawyers against anyone who tries to enforce the deadline.”
Schmitt argued that when voters elect leaders who seek stricter immigration enforcement, Democrats respond by changing the law.
“And when the American people finally elect the president to end this chaos, to end this abuse, Democrats demand mass amnesty.”
He added, “And when the American people finally elect a president who enforces the law, Democrats change the law and hand out green cards.”
According to Schmitt, the proposal would permanently transform a program originally intended for temporary humanitarian emergencies.
“That’s what this bill does. It turns a program created for temporary emergencies into a pipeline for green cards and citizenship.”
The senator also criticized provisions he said would allow individuals who had previously been removed from the United States to seek permanent residency.
“Not only for people who have temporary status, not only for people who once had TPS.”
He continued, “This bill reaches beyond our borders and allows people who were already removed from this country, to apply for permanent residency from abroad.”
Schmitt argued that such a policy would effectively reverse completed deportation cases.
“Think about how crazy that is. The law was enforced, the alien was removed, the case was closed.”
He added, “Yet Democrats want to erase the removal, reopen the border, and bring that person back with a green card.”
Schmitt also criticized what he described as a broader shift in immigration policy.
“Under the radical new democratic immigration platform deportation isn’t deportation; it’s merely an inconvenience before a green card arrives.”
He argued that the legislation would go beyond granting legal status to current recipients by reopening opportunities for those outside the country.
“This bill does not merely reward those who broke our laws and remained in our country; it reaches around the entire globe to reverse deportations and to restart mass migration.”
Schmitt also objected to provisions governing how information submitted through immigration applications could be used.
“But even that is not enough. This bill also creates an ICE blackout.”
He explained, “Information provided in these applications can’t be used for immigration enforcement.”
According to Schmitt, the proposal would also impose penalties on law enforcement officers who improperly use the information.
“The bill even threatens penalties against law enforcement who improperly properly use the information.”
He argued that the legislation would shield immigration information from enforcement agencies.
“So Democrats want to want the information we have about foreigners to be placed behind a legal shield, so it cannot be used to enforce immigration law.”
Schmitt contrasted Republican and Democratic approaches to law enforcement.
“Republicans want to handcuff illegal criminals. Democrats want to handcuff law enforcement officers, so they can’t do their jobs.”
He added, “They are not hiding the choice anymore. They will punish the officer before they punish the illegal alien.”
The senator questioned the priorities behind the legislation.
“Why are legal aliens more important to them now than protecting American citizens?”
Schmitt concluded by arguing that the proposal would prevent future administrations from ending TPS.
“Oh, but it doesn’t stop there. This bill ensures that any president, any future president can’t end TPS.”
He closed his remarks by saying the legislation overlooks the interests of American citizens.
“So what’s missing from the bill? Americans, American citizens, and the impact mass migration is having on our people.”
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