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Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT)


Peter Welch

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124 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 224-4242

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Last 5 Actions

Cosponsored S. 916: Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act (March 10, 2025)

Cosponsored S. 696: A bill to provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible aliens, and for other purposes. (Feb. 24, 2025)

Cosponsored S. 646: Born in the USA Act (Feb. 20, 2025)

Cosponsored S. 455: Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (Feb. 6, 2025)

Sponsored S. 482: A bill to include Czechia in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E-1 nonimmigrants if United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Czechia. (Feb. 6, 2025)

S. 482: A bill to include Czechia in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E-1 nonimmigrants if United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Czechia. (Feb. 6, 2025)

S. 4888: A bill to include Czechia in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E-1 nonimmigrants if United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Czechia. (July 31, 2024)

S. 2601: Agricultural Worker Justice Act (July 27, 2023)

S. 916: Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act (March 10, 2025)

S. 696: A bill to provide temporary Ukrainian guest status for eligible aliens, and for other purposes. (Feb. 24, 2025)

S. 646: Born in the USA Act (Feb. 20, 2025)

S. 455: Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (Feb. 6, 2025)

S. 398: NO BAN Act (Feb. 4, 2025)

S. 391: Access to Counsel Act of 2025 (Feb. 4, 2025)

S. 4961: NO BAN Act (Aug. 1, 2024)

S. 4861: Destination Reception Assistance Act (July 30, 2024)

S. 4773: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (July 25, 2024)

S. 4723: Keep Families Together Act (July 11, 2024)

S. 4069: Affordable and Secure Food Act of 2024 (March 22, 2024)

S. 3987: Stateless Protection Act of 2024 (March 20, 2024)

S. 2562: A bill to require ports of entry along the northern border to remain open as many hours per day as they were open prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jan. 31, 2024)

S. 3712: A bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to treat United States Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes. (Jan. 31, 2024)

S. 3714: GRACE Act (Jan. 31, 2024)

S. 1651: Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act (Dec. 18, 2023)

S.Res. 506: A resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. (Dec. 14, 2023)

S. 3323: PROKID Act (Dec. 5, 2023)

S. 3211: Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (Nov. 27, 2023)

S. 3128: Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act (Oct. 25, 2023)

S. 3065: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2023 (Oct. 24, 2023)

S. 1885: Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act (Sept. 5, 2023)

S. 2175: ASPIRE Act (Sept. 5, 2023)

S. 2038: LIFT the BAR Act of 2023 (June 15, 2023)

S. 1963: College for All Act of 2023 (June 14, 2023)

S. 1208: Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2023 (April 19, 2023)

S. 1031: EACH Act of 2023 (March 29, 2023)

S. 342: Access to Counsel Act of 2023 (Feb. 9, 2023)

S. 5 : Laken Riley Act

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (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 Yes (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 No (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 Yes (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 No (April 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 No (March 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 No (March 23, 2024)

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

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

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

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

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

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

H.R. 4366 : Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

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

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

On the Motion -- Voted No (Feb. 29, 2024)

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

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (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 Yes (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 No (Dec. 13, 2023)

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

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted No (Dec. 12, 2023)

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

On the Motion to Table -- Voted No (Dec. 12, 2023)

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

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Nov. 15, 2023)

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

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted Yes (Sept. 30, 2023)

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

On Passage of the Bill -- Voted No (July 27, 2023)

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

On the Cloture Motion -- Voted Yes (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 No (May 17, 2023)

Hirono, Colleagues Demand Answers, Return of Maryland Father Wrongfully Deported to El Salvador
April 8, 2025

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
Cortez Masto Joins Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Reinstate TPS for Venezuela
April 7, 2025

"U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 18 of her colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reconsider the Trump Administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans who applied for TPS under its designation in 2023. The Administration’s decision to revoke this critical protection has been temporarily put on hold by a court order, postponing the harm it will cause to approximately 350,000 people who remain at risk of losing TPS."

Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Peter Welch
Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, Warren, Markey, Lawmakers Demand Explanation for “Disturbing Arrest and Detention” of Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk
April 4, 2025

This week Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) joined Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and over 30 lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, demanding information about the arrest and detention of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk and similar incidents across the country.

“The Administration should not summarily detain and deport legal residents of this country merely for expressing their political views. Absent compelling evidence justifying her detention and the revocation of her status, we call for Ozturk’s release and the restoration of her visa,” wrote the lawmakers. 

Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Rep. Don Beyer, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Andy Kim, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. LaMonica McIver, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Tina Smith, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Jill Tokuda, Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Sen. Peter Welch
Van Hollen, Ivey Lead Bicameral Letter Urging Administration to Continue Legal Protections for Cameroonians in the U.S. Who Have Fled Violence, Humanitarian Disaster
April 4, 2025

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) sent a bicameral letter with over 30 of their colleagues to President Donald Trump urging the Administration to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Cameroonians living legally in the United States, as ongoing violence, instability, and humanitarian crises continue to pose a grave threat to anyone returning to Cameroon. In their letter, the lawmakers highlight that extending and redesignating these protections for Cameroonians already in the U.S. advances American interests in supporting counterterrorism efforts and strengthening our economy.

Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Rep. Lois Frankel, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Glenn Ivey, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Seth Moulton, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Paul Tonko, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Marc Veasey, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Sen. Peter Welch
Markey Joins Padilla, Durbin, Welch in Demanding Answers on Dismantling of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
April 3, 2025

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
Padilla, Schiff Urge Attorney General Bondi to Reverse Course on Unjustified Firings of Immigration Judges
March 31, 2025

"U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined 64 House and Senate Democrats in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to reverse the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) alarming decision to fire immigration judges even as the immigration courts currently face a staggering backlog of immigration cases. In February, EOIR abruptly fired 20 immigration judges, removed all nine Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) judges appointed during the Biden Administration, and terminated four individuals in senior EOIR leadership positions, with indications they may remove even more judges."

Rep. Yassamin Ansari, Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Lou Correa, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Warren Davidson, Rep. Danny Davis, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Chuy García, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Hank Johnson, Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Andy Kim, Sen. Angus King, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. George Latimer, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Grace Meng, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Rep. Deborah Ross, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Jill Tokuda, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. Maxine Waters, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sen. Schiff Leads Senators in Demanding DHS Release Detained Harvard Medical School Researcher
March 31, 2025

“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
Padilla Urges President Trump to Abandon Use of Family Detention
March 19, 2025

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
CLARKE, PRESSLEY, VAN HOLLEN LEAD LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATION DEMANDING REINSTATEMENT OF TPS FOR HAITI
March 18, 2025

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
Durbin, Padilla, Booker, Welch Statement On Trump Invoking The Alien Enemies Act To Target Immigrants Without Due Process
March 17, 2025

Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Peter Welch (D-VT) issued the following statement after President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, claiming wartime power to deport noncitizens without due process:

“Over the weekend, President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens without due process. This attempt to use an archaic wartime law—not used since World War II—forimmigration enforcement is yet another unlawful and brazen power grab.

Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Peter Welch
Hirono, Ossoff Lead Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Ensure Legal Representation for Vulnerable Children in Immigration System
March 10, 2025

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
Sens. Ossoff, Hirono Lead 32 Senators Demanding Trump Administration Ensure Legal Representation for Vulnerable Children in Immigration System
March 5, 2025
Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats Press Justice Department On Diversion Of Law Enforcement To Purported Immigration Enforcement Initiative
March 3, 2025

"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
Padilla Denounces President Trump’s Unlawful Transfer of Immigrants to Guantánamo Bay
Feb. 24, 2025

“These actions are unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values, and interests. The United States has never sent anyone from the United States to be detained at Guantánamo before now,” wrote the Senators. “… There is no basis in U.S. immigration law for transferring noncitizens arrested inside the United States to a location outside of the United States for detention prior to or for the purposes of conducting removal proceedings.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Peter Welch
Rosen Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Block Implementation of Trump’s Unconstitutional Attempt to Eliminate Automatic Citizenship for Children Born in the U.S.
Feb. 20, 2025

"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
Welch Statement on Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders
Jan. 23, 2025

"U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on President Trump’s Executive Orders, signed within hours of taking office, to end refugee resettlement, birthright citizenship, and humanitarian parole; reinstate the Muslim travel ban and ‘Remain in Mexico’ policies; and freeze the United States’ asylum process, which conflicts with international humanitarian law: 

“President Trump’s Executive Orders set the tone for the policies of his second term: cruel, draconian, and for some, unconstitutional. We will fight this through the legislative process and in the courts.”

Sen. Peter Welch
Welch Presses Agriculture Secretary Nominee Brooke Rollins on Commitment to Bipartisan Cooperation on Vermont Priorities
Jan. 23, 2025

Sen. Welch continued: “Another issue is labor on the farm—we can’t milk our cows. Literally can’t milk our cows without immigrant labor. And I’m for a secure border, I think all of us here are, but I’m also for legal immigration. And that is a real challenge for our dairy farmers. I want to make sure that whatever we do to secure the border doesn’t deprive our hardworking dairy farms and farmers access to the labor that they absolutely depend on…So, we will work together on that? And you appreciate the importance of having access to that labor for our dairy farms and others as well?” 

Ms. Rollins: “I know there is great concern amongst our ag community on what immigration under President Trump will look like. My commitment to you is this: that understanding the data and understanding the impact of those in the ag community—dairy farms I think especially are concerned—but everybody is…I know these cows need to be milked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it doesn’t go away. If there’s no one to milk them, that’s big trouble.” 

Sen. Peter Welch
Kaine, Bennet, Hickenlooper, King, Luján, Merkley, Shaheen, Van Hollen, Warner & Welch Unveil Amendment to Improve Laken Riley Act
Jan. 15, 2025

Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus I. King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) unveiled an amendment to weaken the Laken Riley Act by limiting its application to those over 16.

Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Tim Kaine, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Peter Welch
Rep. Juan Vargas, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Standardize CBP Handling of Personal Belongings
Dec. 5, 2024

"U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (IL-03) and Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07) and Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in introducing the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act. This legislation would require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop guidance to better ensure the respectful handling of personal property of individuals who are in CBP custody."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Juan Vargas, Sen. Peter Welch
Duckworth, Durbin Join Introduction of Bicameral Legislation to Expand Protections for Migrants' Essential Personal Belongings
Nov. 25, 2024

"U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) in introducing the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act, bicameral legislation to require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop guidance for the handling of personal property of individuals arrested, restrained, or confined by the Agency."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Peter Welch
King, Rounds Seeking Maximum H-2B Work Visas to Support Small Businesses in 2025
Oct. 24, 2024
Warren, Gillibrand, Frost, Espaillat Lead Coalition of 70 Lawmakers in Pushing for DHS, USCIS to Clear Work Permit Backlog for Migrants By End of Year
Oct. 23, 2024

"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

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