Back to Members list

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO)


Eric Schmitt

Contact

404 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5721

Official Website
Contact Form
Facebook
X/Twitter

Last 5 Actions

Cosponsored S. 3179: Halo Act (Feb. 4, 2026)

Cosponsored S. 3752: SAVE America Act (Feb. 4, 2026)

Sponsored S. 3674: SCAM Act (Jan. 15, 2026)

Cosponsored S. 3584: Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving (Jan. 7, 2026)

Cosponsored S. 3054: Kayla Hamilton Act (Oct. 23, 2025)

S. 3674: SCAM Act (Jan. 15, 2026)

S. 2748: Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act (Sept. 9, 2025)

S. 2269: PRICE Act (July 14, 2025)

S. 1817: A bill to amend section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to treat inadmissible aliens more consistently regardless of their country of nationality, and for other purposes. (May 20, 2025)

S. 108: Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2025 (Jan. 16, 2025)

S. 5147: Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2024 (Sept. 24, 2024)

S. 3179: Halo Act (Feb. 4, 2026)

S. 3752: SAVE America Act (Feb. 4, 2026)

S. 3584: Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving (Jan. 7, 2026)

S. 3054: Kayla Hamilton Act (Oct. 23, 2025)

S. 2308: PATRIOT Parks Act (July 28, 2025)

S. 1827: A bill to authorize the expedited removal of aliens who are criminal gang members, members of foreign terrorist organizations, or have been convicted of certain specified crimes. (May 21, 2025)

S. 1487: LIABLE Act (April 10, 2025)

S. 1296: DETERRENT Act (April 3, 2025)

S. 1079: Restoring Law and Order Act of 2025 (March 25, 2025)

S. 685: Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Feb. 27, 2025)

S. 707: No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (Feb. 25, 2025)

S. 212: POLICE Act of 2025 (Jan. 23, 2025)

S. 50: Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act (Jan. 22, 2025)

S. 198: PLO and PA Terror Payments Accountability Act of 2025 (Jan. 22, 2025)

S. 159: Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act (Jan. 21, 2025)

S. 128: SAVE Act (Jan. 16, 2025)

S. 5: Laken Riley Act (Jan. 6, 2025)

S. 3833: Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act (Nov. 12, 2024)

S. 5248: Citizenship Verification in Emergency Healthcare Act (Sept. 25, 2024)

S. 4722: Furthering Operations for Resiliency, Transparency, and Integrity to Fortify (FORTIFY) United States Research Act (July 25, 2024)

S. 4818: Safeguarding Americans From Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act (July 25, 2024)

S.J.Res. 94: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the proposed rule submitted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to the Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule. (June 5, 2024)

S. 4292: SAVE Act (May 14, 2024)

S.Res. 622: A resolution providing for the issuance of a summons, providing for the appointment of a committee to receive and to report evidence, and establishing related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas. (March 22, 2024)

S.Res. 623: A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security. (March 22, 2024)

S.Res. 624: A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the articles of impeachment against Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security. (March 22, 2024)

S. 3933: Laken Riley Act (March 12, 2024)

S. 3659: Equal Representation Act (Jan. 25, 2024)

S. 1829: Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act of 2024 (Oct. 30, 2023)

S.J.Res. 41: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Executive Officer for Immigration Review relating to "Circumvention of Lawful Pathways". (Oct. 16, 2023)

S. 2824: Secure the Border Act of 2023 (Sept. 14, 2023)

S. 333: Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2023 (Feb. 9, 2023)

S. 370: Protecting America From Spies Act (Feb. 9, 2023)

S.Res. 45: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the current influx of migrants is causing a crisis at the southern border. (Feb. 9, 2023)

S. 2882 : Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed -- Did Not Vote (Oct. 9, 2025)

S. 2882 : Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted No (Oct. 6, 2025)

S. 2882 : Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed -- Voted No (Oct. 3, 2025)

S. 2882 : Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026

On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed -- Voted No (Oct. 1, 2025)

H.R. 1 : One Big Beautiful Bill Act

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (July 1, 2025)

S. 5 : Laken Riley Act

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Jan. 20, 2025)

S. 5 : Laken Riley Act

On the Coons Amendment to remove state Attorney General standing to sue to stop administrations from violating provisions of immigration law -- Voted No (Jan. 15, 2025)

S. 5 : Laken Riley Act

On the Cornyn amendment to make aliens who assault a law enforcement officer inadmissible and deportable -- Voted Yes (Jan. 15, 2025)

H.R. 815 : Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

On the Motion -- Voted No (April 23, 2024)

H.R. 815 : Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted No (April 23, 2024)

H.R. 815 : Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (April 23, 2024)

H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (March 23, 2024)

H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (March 23, 2024)

H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (March 23, 2024)

H.R. 2882 : Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (March 23, 2024)

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion -- Voted Yes (March 8, 2024)

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion -- Voted Yes (March 8, 2024)

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted No (March 8, 2024)

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (March 8, 2024)

H.R. 7463 : Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024

On the Motion -- Voted Yes (Feb. 29, 2024)

H.R. 7463 : Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (Feb. 29, 2024)

H.R. 2872 : Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (Jan. 18, 2024)

H.R. 2872 : Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

On the Motion -- Voted No (Jan. 18, 2024)

H.R. 2670 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

On the Conference Report -- Voted Yes (Dec. 13, 2023)

H.R. 2670 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted Yes (Dec. 12, 2023)

H.R. 2670 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

On the Motion to Table -- Voted Yes (Dec. 12, 2023)

H.R. 6363 : Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (Nov. 15, 2023)

H.R. 5860 : Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (Sept. 30, 2023)

S. 2226 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (July 27, 2023)

S. 2226 : National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted No (July 18, 2023)

S.J.Res. 18 : A joint resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility".

On the Joint Resolution -- Voted Yes (May 17, 2023)

Upon Senator Schmitt’s Request, DHS Commits to Review and Re-Evaluate OPT Program
Feb. 26, 2026

“Today, however, the [OPT] program functions as a cheap-labor pipeline for big business—and a backdoor into the U.S. job market for foreign workers. OPT serves the financial interests of large corporations and academic institutions at the direct expense of young American workers and students. This system boxes young Americans out of the workforce, discriminates against American workers in favor of foreign labor, and suppresses wages and job opportunities for U.S. graduates. At the same time, it distorts our higher education system, incentivizes colleges to become “visa mills” and poses a serious threat to our national security and prosperity. Americans never asked for, or even authorized, this program. OPT was created (and then expanded) by unelected bureaucrats in the executive branch, without the input or approval of Congress, circumventing the caps and limits that govern employment-based visas. This unfortunate exercise of executive action, however, means OPT can likely be overhauled or ended by executive action,” Senator Schmitt wrote in his letter to Secretary Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow.

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Calls for Passage of the SAVE America Act on Fox News
Feb. 11, 2026

“We ought to push [the SAVE America Act]. The American people want us to fight, Laura. It is an 80 percent issue, and by the way, over 70 percent of Democrats support this. Democrat elected politicians are totally out of touch. If you look at 2024 election, it was the return of common sense. And nothing could be more common sense than having to prove through photo ID that you are who you say you are to vote in our elections. If we believe in secure elections, this is absolutely something to do. You have to [show ID] to check into hotel, to buy a plane ticket, right? Everybody understands that. Why would the Democrats oppose [the SAVE America Act]? It’s interesting. It’s happening at the same time as we’re having this illegal immigration debate in this country, because effectively, the Democrats know they can’t win elections fairly, and they want to cheat. They want people who are here [to vote]. They’ve imported people here to vote. They want people to cheat. They want to do ballot harvesting because they know they can’t win an election fair and square anymore. This is very important for the Senate to take up [the SAVE America Act], push hard, and let the American people know that we’re fighting for them. We’re fighting for our republic.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Blasts Democrats for Opposing Commonsense Voter ID Law, DHS Funding on Fox News
Feb. 9, 2026

“[…] If you actually have people who are voting, and you require them to show ID that over 80 percent of Americans support it. You would think in this country, we have a lot of things we can argue about that are not 80/20 [percent] issues. This is an 80/20 issue. This is the kind of thing that we should get done here. The SAVE America Act is common sense. The Democrats don’t like it because it threatens their power. That’s the electrical board that runs through all these positions — they want to kneecap ICE’s ability to do their jobs, because they don’t want deportations and they want illegal immigrants to vote.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Introduces Protect America Act
Feb. 5, 2026

"The first duty of the government is to protect its citizens. My bill, the Protect America Act, gives law enforcement the tools they need to deport dangerous criminal aliens and secure our communities. We cannot allow our country to be a sanctuary for criminals."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Highlights Tragic Consequences of Democrats’ Open Border Policies on Senate Floor
Feb. 4, 2026

"They don’t care about what is just. They care about what is useful.

They wield the language of decency and compassion as a political weapon.

If this was about empathy, they would have wept with the parents of Jocelyn Nungaray — the 12 year old girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by two illegal aliens in 2024.”

If this was about compassion, they would have mourned for the five young children of Rachel Morin, an American mother who was ambushed, raped and murdered by an illegal alien on a hiking trail in Maryland in 2023.

If this was about justice, their hearts would have broken for the family of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia who was brutally murdered while out for a jog nearly two years ago to this day — beaten and strangled to death by a Venezuelan illegal because she fought back when he tried to rape her.”"

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Torches Soros-Funded Witness during Senate Judiciary Hearing, Highlights Bill to Denaturalize Scammers
Feb. 4, 2026

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, American citizenship is a gift and also a sacred duty. It comes with extraordinary rights and important responsibilities. Responsibilities are preconditioned to those rights. That’s why our forefathers created strict rules for naturalizing new citizens. On the front end, those who wish to become Americans must prove they are persons of good moral character, of loyal to our country and attached to our Constitution. On the back end, we have the ability to revoke the citizenship of those who lie or deceive us in the process of securing it. We’ve seen those standards of citizenship be debased. Look at the stories of just the past few months in Minneapolis. Case after case, naturalized U.S. citizens behaving in ways that show, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that they were never fit for citizenship in the first place. […] Something has to change, which is why I introduced the SCAM Act to expand and accelerate our ability to denaturalize people who should have never become citizens in the first place. If you use your new citizen citizenship to commit massive welfare fraud aggravated felonies or espionage or join drug cartels or terrorist organizations. You were never fit to be called an American at all. I encourage my colleagues to on this committee to support that important legislation,” Senator Schmitt said during his opening remarks. 

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt on Impending Immigration Enforcement Debate: “Bring it on”
Feb. 1, 2026

“I want to be clear: We’re not going to do anything that inhibits law enforcement’s ability to execute the laws that Congress has voted on and the deportations the American people voted on in November of 2024. President Trump ran on this issue. It wasn’t a footnote, it wasn’t a side note — it was a central plank of his campaign. The American people deserve that, and I think it’s important to take a step back. This didn’t begin in Minneapolis last weekend, or even when President Trump took office last January. This began in January of 2021 when Joe Biden took office, dismantled the border controls that we had before, and let in 15 to 20 million people here illegally, including tens of thousands of murderers, hundreds of thousands of other criminals. And so, to my Democrat colleagues who have made this now the central focus of the next two weeks — thank you. Thank you very much because we’re going to have this debate now. This is a home game for us. We need to be aggressive if they’re going to put forward these ridiculous proposals that put immigration enforcement and the individuals [in ICE] who have families in harm’s way. We’re going to propose and move forward on ending sanctuary cities, increasing the penalties for illegal entry and re-entry, making sure we dismantle the [non-governmental organization] network that exists that’s creating all these confrontations and protecting law enforcement. We should not back down at all, Maria, we need to press forward and the deportations will continue.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Schmitt Takes to Senate Floor to Lay Out Plan to Protect America, Restore Law and Order, Support ICE
Jan. 30, 2026

"The future belongs to the countries that believe in themselves enough to enforce their laws."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Defends ICE, Trump’s Deportation Efforts from the Senate Floor
Jan. 28, 2026

"The deportations must continue. Sanctuary cities must end. The era of fake deals is over. There will be no fake 'comprehensive immigration reform,' because a nation does not need new laws to enforce the ones it already has. President Trump demonstrated a basic truth of self-government: law without enforcement is not law at all."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Introduces Bill to Expand Denaturalization Process for Individuals Who Commit Fraud, Serious Felonies, or Join Terrorist Organizations
Jan. 19, 2026

"The rampant fraud uncovered in Minnesota must be a wakeup call. People who commit felony fraud, serious felonies, or join terrorist organizations like drug cartels shortly after taking their citizenship oaths fail to uphold the basic standards of citizenship. They must be denaturalized because they have proven they never met the requirements for the great honor of American citizenship in the first place."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Introduces Bill to Expand Denaturalization Process for Individuals Who Commit Fraud, Serious Felonies, or Join Terrorist Organizations
Jan. 19, 2026

"The rampant fraud uncovered in Minnesota must be a wakeup call. People who commit felony fraud, serious felonies, or join terrorist organizations like drug cartels shortly after taking their citizenship oaths fail to uphold the basic standards of citizenship. They must be denaturalized because they have proven they never met the requirements for the great honor of American citizenship in the first place."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Introduces Bill to Expand Denaturalization Process for Individuals Who Commit Fraud, Serious Felonies, or Join Terrorist Organizations
Jan. 19, 2026

"The rampant fraud uncovered in Minnesota must be a wakeup call. People who commit felony fraud, serious felonies, or join terrorist organizations like drug cartels shortly after taking their citizenship oaths fail to uphold the basic standards of citizenship. They must be denaturalized because they have proven they never met the requirements for the great honor of American citizenship in the first place."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Joins Fox News to Discuss Minnesota ICE Riots, Democrats’ Dangerous Rhetoric
Jan. 15, 2026

“It’s really in their DNA. It’s not that long ago, they were talking about defunding the police. Now they tiptoe away from that because they saw what a disaster that was. But you’re hearing people say, elected officials say, ‘defund ICE’, ‘abolish ICE’ — not a much difference. And ultimately, what the American people want. They want their country to be a place where law is respected, order is respected. They don’t want these crazy people blocking law enforcement, creating dangerous situations themselves, where people can get hurt. Look, they’re going after the worst of the worst here and the mass importation of people into this country — mass migration has to be met with mass deportations.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Defends ICE, Deportation Operations, Previews Bill to Expand Denaturalization Process for Fraudsters, Serious Criminals
Jan. 13, 2026

“That’s right. So, there’s three steps here. The first is, there have to be real prosecutions. Enough of the talk, we’ve got to find the fraudsters, and they need to be prosecuted. Secondly, there need to be greater controls — and Treasury [Department] is working on this — to make sure before any money goes out the door, you’re verifying where it is going — not to some phony daycare in a strip mall with twenty other phony daycares in that same strip mall. And then, thirdly — and I’m working with the White House right now on a bill that we’re going to get a vote for — is, for the first time, to say you’re going to be denaturalized. And there’s a look back here. If you committed fraud, or you’re involved in any kind of felony, you lose the rights of an American citizen. You’re going to be denaturalized, and you’re going to be sent home. We have to send a very clear message that we’re not going to tolerate this in this country. That we’re going to actually side with the American people who’ve been ripped off. You know, people have great reason to not have faith in their government. They’ve sided with illegal immigrants for too long. We got to change that.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act
Jan. 7, 2026

“Zero mercy should be shown to illegal aliens who not only defy our laws by unlawfully entering the country but also take it a step further to drive drunk, threatening American lives,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By strengthening current immigration law to hold these offenders accountable, our bill sends a clear message: If you enter the country illegally and harm innocent citizens, we will find you, we will punish you, and we will make sure you never step foot on American soil again.”

“We can’t have a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system without clear rules that prevent dangerous criminals from remaining in our country. Drunk driving that results in severe injury or death is a serious and dangerous crime. Individuals who put lives at risk and endanger our communities should be held accountable,” said Sen. Gallego.

“This legislation closes a legal loophole that has prevented and would continue to prevent law enforcement from protecting Americans,” said Sen. Cruz. “It will directly contribute to making our communities safer, and I urge my colleagues to advance it without delay.” 

“Driving under the influence of intoxicating substances can have serious life or death consequences, and any illegal alien who chooses to get behind the wheel in such a state should not remain in our country. I am proud to stand with Senator Cornyn and my colleagues to ensure that illegal aliens who commit such crimes are deported from and inadmissible to the U.S.,” said Sen. Budd.

“Illegal immigrants who drink and drive put innocent American lives at risk and should face serious consequences, including deportation,” said Sen. Tillis. “This legislation strengthens our laws to close dangerous loopholes and ensure those who commit serious criminal offenses are swiftly removed from our country.”

“The Trump administration is sending a clear signal to all criminal illegal aliens: you are not welcome in the United States,” said Sen. Lummis. “Too many American lives have been taken because illegal immigrants who should never have been in our country were driving under the influence on our roads. I am proud to support Senator John Cornyn’s legislation that puts public safety first, ends the cycle of excuses for criminal behavior, and ensures that illegal immigrants convicted of DUI are removed.”

“It’s bad enough to commit a crime by crossing our border illegally—but it’s beyond inexcusable for illegal immigrants to put innocent people in harm’s way by driving under the influence. We’ve seen far too many American lives cut short by drunk drivers who shouldn’t even be in our country, and we ought to use every tool in our arsenal to make sure these tragedies never happen again. The Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act will ensure illegal immigrants who hurt or kill people by driving under the influence are met with the full force of the law, and I’m proud to help introduce it,” said Sen. Kennedy.

“Driving under the influence and entering the United States illegally are both crimes that pose serious danger to the lives and livelihoods of American citizens. Any illegal who is caught driving drunk is doing both and should be immediately deported and never allowed to re-enter the United States. Our immigration and transportation laws must be enforced,” said Sen. Schmitt.

“People who are not legally present in this country should be removed, especially if they have been convicted of driving under the influence. Federal law should be clear that no illegal alien should ever have a second DUI conviction,” said Sen. Lankford.

“This common-sense measure is long overdue. Too many lives have been lost to reckless, drunk and impaired drivers. We certainly shouldn’t add to that tragic number by allowing illegal aliens to have a pass for endangering drivers on American roads,” said Sen. Mullin. “Illegal aliens convicted of driving drunk and harming our citizens have no place in this country. In fact, these criminals should move to the very FRONT of the deportation line and be on the first flight home. Full stop.”

Sen. Ted Budd, Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Ruben Gallego, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. John Kennedy, Sen. James Lankford, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Thom Tillis
Senator Schmitt Defends National Guard Deployment, Condemns Surge in Violence Against Law Enforcement
Dec. 11, 2025

"What I don’t hear a lot from my Democrat colleagues — they might condemn the violence — but what’s telling is you don’t hear any of them say, ‘stand back and let ICE do their jobs’. Because, the fact is, they just don’t actually believe in immigration enforcement."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
NEWS RELEASE: Senator Ashley Moody & Senator Eric Schmitt Working to Double Federal Penalty for Attacking Federal Agents
Dec. 3, 2025

Senator Ashley Moody said, “Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day to defend communities across the country and keep us safe. That is why I am working with Senator Schmitt to double the penalty for these violent attacks. Let’s pass the PRICE Act today and ensure that we have our officers’ backs, while they protect ours.”

Senator Eric Schmitt said, “While the left is focused on villainizing ICE and forcing agents to remove their masks, I’m focused on protecting these heroes who are working tirelessly to deport criminal illegal aliens and keep our communities safe. The punishment for attacking ICE agents should be swift and devastating. This is why I introduced legislation to double the federal penalty for assaulting federal immigration officials, sending a clear message to radical leftists that these attacks will not be tolerated.”

Sen. Ashley Moody, Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt on Trump’s Immigration Agenda, Efforts to Combat Venezuela Drug Trafficking, Latest on Russia-Ukraine
Nov. 30, 2025

“When you hear comprehensive immigration reform, it’s usually code word for mass amnesty. That’s what they’re talking about. We’re not interested in that. What we need to do right now is enforce the laws of the United States. Here’s the thing, there’s nothing particularly new about deportations. Bill Clinton deported 11 million people. The difference now is the Democrats have been radicalized. The people who wrote white papers 20 years ago are key members of their party. When you even hear Democrats condemn violence against ICE agents, what they never say, Jackie, is ‘let them do their jobs, get out of the way and let them do their jobs’. [That’s] because this is a coordinated attempt to thwart immigration enforcement in this country. The American people have had enough of it. It’s one of the big reasons they sent President Trump back to the Oval Office. He campaigned on this. This mass migration we’ve seen needs to be met with mass deportations. 20 million people came here illegally. There are flaws in our legal immigration system. I think this is a real kind of civilizational issue for us here in the West. They’re dealing with it in Europe, where it’s had tragic consequences. I think if we get ahead of this in this country, we’ll be okay. But the left has hell bent on these open border policies. And then, if you come here legally, you’re never, ever supposed to leave. It’s ridiculous.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Outlines Severe Problems with OPT Program
Nov. 14, 2025

“Today, however, the program functions as a cheap-labor pipeline for big business—and a backdoor into the U.S. job market for foreign workers. OPT serves the financial interests of large corporations and academic institutions at the direct expense of young American workers and students. This system boxes young Americans out of the workforce, discriminates against American workers in favor of foreign labor, and suppresses wages and job opportunities for U.S. graduates. At the same time, it distorts our higher education system, incentivizes colleges to become “visa mills” and poses a serious threat to our national security and prosperity. Americans never asked for, or even authorized, this program. OPT was created (and then expanded) by unelected bureaucrats in the executive branch, without the input or approval of Congress, circumventing the caps and limits that govern employment-based visas. This unfortunate exercise of executive action, however, means OPT can likely be overhauled or ended by executive action.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Leads Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Politically Motivated Violence
Oct. 28, 2025

"To these people and this movement, the only acceptable goal is the destruction of the system and its leaders. The central idea of every revolutionary project is that utopia must be achieved through any means necessary... If you truly believe mass migration is an inalienable right, then opening the floodgates to uncontrolled immigration, tearing down the border, and attacking those who defend it might look like justice."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Urges Sec. Hegseth to Make Fort Leonard Wood an ICE Agent Training Facility
Sept. 18, 2025

“As I raised with General Mahoney during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 11, I believe Fort Leonard Wood offers an important opportunity for the Department of War to support a vital national security priority: training the next generation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Slams Radicals for Attacking ICE Agents on the Ingraham Angle
July 16, 2025

“They need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Penalties should be expanded, which is what my legislation does. You need law enforcement to prosecute these people. I think, Laura, that this is a very dangerous game they are playing. They lost this issue at the ballot box. They are losing now in the courts because President Trump is able to do what he said he was going to do, which is mass deportations. All they have left now the Marxist playbook, which is political violence. That needs to be confronted swiftly and severely through prosecutions. That’s the only thing that’s going to matter is if you throw these folks behind bars for 40 years and send a loud message because that’s what the statute allows."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Leads Effort to Double Federal Penalty for Attacking ICE Agents
July 15, 2025

“While the left is focused on villainizing ICE and forcing agents to remove their masks, I’m focused on protecting these heroes who are working tirelessly to deport criminal illegal aliens and keep our communities safe. The punishment for attacking ICE agents should be swift and devastating. This is why I introduced legislation to double the federal penalty for assaulting federal immigration officials, sending a clear message to radical leftists that these attacks will not be tolerated,” said Senator Schmitt.

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Sens. Rick Scott, Hagerty Lead Colleagues to Prohibit Illegal Aliens from Being Counted in U.S. Censuses and Electoral College Count
July 7, 2025

Today, Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Bill Hagerty and colleagues in the Senate to introduce the Equal Representation Act to prohibit non-U.S. citizens from being counted in the electoral college and Congressional district apportionment by requiring the Census Bureau to include a citizenship question on all future censuses. Senators Tim Sheehy, John Hoeven, Mike Lee, and James Lankford also cosponsored this legislation.

Sen. Katie Britt, Sen. Ted Budd, Sen. Kevin Cramer, Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Steve Daines, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. Jim Justice, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Sen. Roger Marshall, Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Jim Risch, Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Tommy Tuberville
Senator Schmitt Condemns Barbaric Murder of Israeli Embassy Staffers, Urges Stronger Immigration Measures on Fox News
May 22, 2025

“I think the Democrats have a warped sense of who the victims are. They aren’t fighting for victims. They are fighting for these terrorists, these criminals, they’re having margaritas down in El Salvador with these people. It’s totally insane. But the good news is, I think at the end of the day President Trump is going to be successful of his goal of deporting the worst of the worst and more. Because mass migration needs to be met with mass deportations. That’s what we should be doing. Actually, I filed a bill this week with Senator Moody from Florida who is also an Attorney General to expand the expedited removal process. Right now, if you are here for less than two years, you don’t need to see a judge. An immigration official can get you out without that kind of judicial review. And we want to expand that. So, if you have been convicted of a felony, if you’re part of a terrorist organization, you’re part of a gang, guess what, we’re going to identify you, and you are gone. So, I think we need to have more tools in the tool box. But the ones President Trump has right now, he is exercising them as these cases make their way through the courts. I think he’s largely going to be successful. It is frustrating to see some of these individualized district court decisions but in the long run, President Trump is going to fulfill his campaign promise of mass deportations.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Praises Trump Administration’s America-First Immigration Priorities on The Evening Edit
May 21, 2025

“We shouldn’t, and that was the real failure of the previous administration, 15 million people here at least illegally, well over a million violent criminal backgrounds. In Caracas, Venezuela, it used to be the most dangerous city in the world. They literally emptied their prisons, now it’s a safe city because a lot of them came here. They were in Colombia first, and they’re here. It’s been a total disaster, and President Trump’s right. He campaigned on this, to remove these illegal criminal aliens from the country. And I think the mass deportation effort, it hits a few hurdles along the way here with these district court judges, but I’m confident he’s going to be able to carry that out. There’s a lot of fights. We can talk more about that, the legal landscape, but he’s well within his rights as the Commander in Chief to move forward with this.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Senator Schmitt Helps Introduce Bill to Expand President’s Authority to Deport Criminal Illegal Immigrants
May 21, 2025

"Today, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) joined Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) in introducing the Expedited Removal of Criminal Aliens Act to expand the President’s authority to deport criminal illegal immigrants. This legislation is critical to supporting President Trump’s immigration priorities and allows for swift correction to the Biden administration’s disastrous border policies. 

“Four years ago, Joe Biden opened our southern border and allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country with no legal consequences. These illegal immigrants who broke the law to come into our country are not due the same process as American citizens. The Supreme Court and the Constitution agree, and it’s time we expand the expedited removal process to allow the President to secure our homeland,” said Senator Eric Schmitt."

Sen. Eric Schmitt
Sen. Cruz Files Amicus Brief in Support of Overturning Obama-Era DHS Program
April 1, 2025

“For far too long, career agency bureaucrats have sought to bypass Congress’s authority to prescribe laws regarding visas. We hope the Supreme Court will grant review in this case, end immigration visa abuse, and clarify the legal process to obtain lawful immigration status in the United States.”

Sen. Jim Banks, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Ted Budd, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Eric Schmitt
U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Ted Budd, John Thune, John Fetterman, Colleagues Introduce Laken Riley Act in 119th Congress
Jan. 7, 2025

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced the introduction of her first bill of the 119th Congress, the Laken Riley Act. Joining Senator Britt in reintroducing this companion bill in the Senate are Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.Dak.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and the entire Senate Republican Conference. This legislation was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Mike Collins (R-Ga.).

Sen. Jim Banks, Sen. John Barrasso, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Katie Britt, Sen. Ted Budd, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. Tom Cotton, Sen. Kevin Cramer, Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. John Curtis, Sen. Steve Daines, Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. John Fetterman, Sen. Deb Fischer, Sen. Ruben Gallego, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. John Kennedy, Sen. James Lankford, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Sen. Roger Marshall, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Dave McCormick, Sen. Jerry Moran, Sen. Bernie Moreno, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Jim Risch, Sen. Mike Rounds, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Tim Sheehy, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. John Thune, Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Sen. JD Vance, Sen. Roger Wicker, Sen. Todd Young
Graves Leads Missouri Republicans in Questioning Biden on Releases of Tren de Aragua Gang Members
Nov. 20, 2024

"Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06), joined by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Jason Smith (MO-08), Mark Alford (MO-04), and Eric Burlison (MO-07), wrote to President Joe Biden today demanding answers regarding reports that local law enforcement have been instructed to release illegal immigrant gang members from Venezuela back into the community."

Rep. Mark Alford, Rep. Eric Burlison, Rep. Sam Graves, Sen. Josh Hawley, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Sen. Eric Schmitt, Rep. Jason Smith, Rep. Ann Wagner
McCaul, Grassley, Colleagues Demand the Biden-Harris Admin Stop Violating Federal Immigration Laws
Oct. 3, 2024

"This week, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) – chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Homeland Security – joined Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 31 House and Senate colleagues in demanding President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris collect DNA samples from every immigrant the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encounters, per the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005."

Rep. Cliff Bentz, Rep. Dan Bishop, Sen. Mike Braun, Rep. Josh Brecheen, Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, Sen. Steve Daines, Rep. Mike Ezell, Rep. Lance Gooden, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Rep. Mark Green, Rep. Michael Guest, Sen. Josh Hawley, Rep. Clay Higgins, Rep. Wesley Hunt, Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. Roger Marshall, Rep. Michael McCaul, Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Barry Moore, Rep. Troy Nehls, Rep. August Pfluger, Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Jim Risch, Rep. Chip Roy, Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Michael Rulli, Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. John Thune
Rubio, Colleagues to Garland: Tren De Aragua Continues to Terrorize Our Nation
Sept. 20, 2024

"Tren de Aragua, a criminal Venezuelan transnational organization known for committing major international crimes such as human trafficking, drug-trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering, continues to terrorize communities across our nation. Following calls from members of Congress, in July 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration designated Tren de Aragua as a Transnational Crime Organization (TCO)."

Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. Carlos A. Giménez, Del. Jenniffer González-Colón, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. María Elvira Salazar, Sen. Eric Schmitt
U.S. Senator Katie Britt Demands Biden-Harris Admin End Illegal Parole Program Flying Migrants into U.S. Interior
Sept. 13, 2024

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) with 15 of their Senate colleagues wrote Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling on them to end the Biden-Harris Administration’s parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV), due to reports of widespread fraud and abuse, and because the program is unlawful.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Mike Braun, Sen. Katie Britt, Sen. Bill Cassidy, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Steve Daines, Sen. Deb Fischer, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Ron Johnson, Sen. James Lankford, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Roger Marshall, Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sen. Eric Schmitt, Sen. Tim Scott

Join the Immigration Accountability Project

Subscribe to receive updates on Congressional action and legislative analysis on immigration issues.

Support our work

Help IAP educate Americans on the actions, votes, and statements of their elected officials on the issue of immigration.