Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons demanding an explanation for the Trump Administration’s seemingly arbitrary revocation of hundreds of student visas nationwide. Today’s letter follows reporting that dozens of students in Connecticut may have had their legal status terminated via email without warning or explanation. In today’s letter, Blumenthal demanded the Trump Administration provide information about what kind of notice and due process were provided to these students.

“Connecticut has some of the top public and private institutions of higher learning in the country. International students gain access to our institutions and in return our campuses benefit in a myriad of ways including in academics, athletics, and a better understanding of and appreciation for multiculturalism here in the United States— an understanding and appreciation that fosters tolerance and acceptance rather than hate and bigotry,” wrote Blumenthal. “These seemingly arbitrary revocations and terminations made without notice or explanation seem deliberately designed to have a chilling effect on student visa holders which will impact our nation’s ability to attract and retain international talent which will result in a net loss for our students and our communities.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal

“The Trump Administration’s breathtakingly cruel decision to strip tens of thousands of tiny children of access to a lawyer shows exactly why this legislation is so important,” said Blumenthal. “The right to legal counsel is a central tenet of our justice system. Yet unaccompanied immigrant children as young as 3 and 4 years old are expected to navigate the cold complexities of our legal system with no one to help them through the process. The consequences of sending these children back to the countries they are fleeing can be literally life-and-death and presents grave human-trafficking risks. We have a moral obligation to ensure that that decision is made with due process, including access to an attorney.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal

Senators: “When the Administration makes a mistake as severe as sending an individual with protected status to a foreign prison, it cannot simply shrug off responsibility and allege that there is nothing it can do to reunite him with his wife and child, who are American citizens.”

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron Wyden

Senators to Secretaries Rubio and Noem: “These actions undermine America’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian protection and place thousands of vulnerable individuals—many of whom served alongside U.S. armed forces—at grave risk”

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee, and 17 Senators in condemning the dismantling of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), including a funding freeze that has halted refugee processing and resettlement. The indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze have stranded tens of thousands in dangerous conditions, separated families, and left recently resettled refugees in the United States without the legally required support.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch

“Absent evidence that Petrova is a flight risk or a danger to the community, we strongly urge you to reconsider ICE’s recent decision not to grant Petrova parole and exercise discretion within your authority to release her from detention while her asylum case is pending.”

“We urge the Administration to ensure full due process in her case and take all appropriate and necessary measures to ensure she is not deported to Russia.”

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Tina Smith, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Senators to Trump: “There is simply no basis for reinstating this cruel, ineffective, and costly practice, particularly when there are effective solutions that, unlike family detention, do not permanently damage children’s health and well-being”

Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Ron Wyden

Today, Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority

Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. Gabe Amo, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Don Beyer, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Rep. Danny Davis, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Chuy García, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. George Latimer, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Seth Magaziner, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Bobby Scott, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Marc Veasey, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. Frederica Wilson

U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) led 30 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, demanding that the Trump Administration continue legal services for unaccompanied children caught up in the immigration system as required by law. Last month, the Trump Administration issued a stop work order to organizations that provide legal services for unaccompanied children. Later that week, following public pressure, the order was rescinded. In 2023, Senator Hirono reintroduced the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act, legislation to provide unaccompanied children with access to legal representation when they appear in proceedings before an immigration judge.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron Wyden

"Today, Sens. Ossoff and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) led a group of 32 Senators demanding that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum continue legal services for unaccompanied children caught up in the immigration system as required by law."

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Ron Wyden

"U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on her reallocation of resources from mission-critical Department of Justice (DOJ) projects to purported “immigration enforcement initiatives."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

"Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led nine of her colleagues in introducing the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of President Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. This bill would prevent any government funds from being used to carry out or enforce this directive, which violates the U.S. Constitution. Senator Rosen was one of the first Congressional leaders to come out forcefully against the President’s birthright citizenship Executive Order. Federal courts have temporarily blocked the order’s implementation, but the Trump Administration is expected to appeal."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Peter Welch

"Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) reintroduced the landmark, bicameral bill, Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, during the 119th Congress. This pivotal legislation would codify commonsense protections for immigrant communities at sensitive locations amid the onslaught of attacks on immigrants, including vulnerable immigrant families. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act for the 119th is co-led by Representatives Don Beyer, Sylvia Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Suzanne Bonamici, Chuy Garcia, Jasmine Crockett, and Delia C. Ramirez."

Rep. Don Beyer, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Chuy García, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Delia Ramirez

"U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), joined by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL), Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Foreign Relations Committee Member Chris Coons (D-DE), and Armed Services Committee Member Mark Kelly (D-AZ) called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to provide Congress with information on how the Administration’s executive orders and directives affect our Afghan wartime allies. Recent Administration actions have called into question whether the United States will stand by these partners and their families by giving them the support and assurances they need to rebuild their lives in America."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Mark Kelly, Sen. Amy Klobuchar

"Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to acting U.S. Attorney General James McHenry and Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Hinds demanding information about the reassignment of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs), including those responsible for prosecuting major drug trafficking, money laundering, and global organized crime, to immigration enforcement roles – including potentially the prosecution of local officials from states like Connecticut. Blumenthal is demanding answers regarding the scope of and reasoning behind these reassignments, citing concerns that the reassignment will distract from larger national security and public safety efforts."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today filed two amendments to the Laken Riley Actto protect Dreamers, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients and individuals eligible for DACA.

Durbin’s first amendment would exempt Dreamers, including DACA recipients and individuals eligible for DACA, from the Laken Riley Act’s mandatory detention scheme. Joining Durbin on this amendment is Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Durbin’s second amendment is the Dream and Promise Act, which is bipartisan legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders. It has previously passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, led by U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29). Joining Durbin on this amendment are Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Gary Peters, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Ron Wyden

"Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, along with Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT-D), Jeff Merkley (OR-D), Mazie Hirono (HI-D), and Edward Markey (MA-D) introduced the bicameral Family Reunification Task Force Act. The legislation authorizes the Family Reunification Task Force to continue its work to reunite the thousands of families torn apart by Trump’s Zero Tolerance policy that inhumanely separated children from their parents."

Rep. Nanette Barragán, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Rep. Rob Menendez, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Juan Vargas

"U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), along with Representatives Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), led a bicameral letter signed by 70 lawmakers to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Jaddou, urging the elimination of the lengthy application backlog for work permits (or “employment authorization documents,” EADs) before the end of the year. 1.4 million EAD applications currently await processing, including roughly 900,000 first-time applicants and 500,000 people seeking renewals."

Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Rep. Nanette Barragán, Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Diana DeGette, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Veronica Escobar, Rep. Anna Eshoo, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Chuy García, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Joe Neguse, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Brittany Pettersen, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Rep. Andrea Salinas, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Terri Sewell, Rep. Adam Smith, Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Darren Soto, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Marc Veasey, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sen. Peter Welch, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Sen. Ron Wyden

"U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Van Hollen (both D-Md.), along with more than a dozen other senators, wrote to President Joe Biden requesting that his administration “provide temporary humanitarian protections for Guatemalan nationals living in the United States.” The letter asks for the president to designate Temporary Protected Status for Guatemala or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure for Guatemalan nationals."

Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark Warner