U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor criticizing the Trump Administration’s actions on legal immigration. Durbin argued that federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have targeted both U.S. citizens and immigrants with legal status, including through racial profiling and detentions.
Durbin addressed several policy changes implemented by the administration, including travel bans, suspension of refugee and asylum processing, ending the Diversity Visa program, and terminating Temporary Protected Status for countries like Afghanistan and Somalia.
“The Trump Administration has diverted resources from law enforcement and national security efforts to focus on arresting immigrants who pose no threat to public safety. We’ve seen it in Chicago. We’ve seen it in Minneapolis. This Administration is targeting legal immigrants who have followed every rule and regulation,” Durbin said.
He referenced President Trump’s response to the deaths of two National Guard members as justification for halting visas for Afghan nationals, noting subsequent pauses in asylum decisions and expanded visa bans affecting 39 countries. The State Department has also extended these restrictions to an additional 36 countries.
“Many of these [Afghani] visa applicants fought against the Taliban alongside American forces and now must flee Afghanistan to avoid punishment or death for the ‘crime’ of working with us. President Trump has abandoned them,” Durbin said. “He [President Trump] slammed the door on Afghan nationals who risked their lives to save the lives of American soldiers. And he did not stop there. In addition to suspending visa applications for Afghan nationals, the Trump Administration paused all asylum and refugee decisions.”
Durbin added: “The Trump Administration has extended broad immigration bans to anyone from 39 different countries—including individuals from those countries who are already in the United States… The Administration is reviewing again all legal immigration cases already approved under the Biden Administration for individuals from the banned nations. To be clear, this expansion is not limited to nationals of countries on the list—it also includes anyone who was born in one of those countries, even if they lived the majority of their life somewhere else.”
He cited reports that Canadians born in Iran were affected by these new policies, along with parents unable to bring adopted children into the country due to vetting requirements: “My office has received reports that Canadians born in Iran have been impacted by this new Trump ban. There have even been reports that the ban has stopped parents who have completed every step of the adoption process from bringing their new babies to the United States. The Administration has claimed that this is about vetting immigrants to protect public safety—but tell me, does it make sense to deny entry to a baby for ‘vetting’ reasons?”
Durbin criticized language used by President Trump regarding Somali immigrants after Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status designation was terminated: “What the President has done is to bring down the hammer on those who are legally immigrating what he calls from ‘s-hole countries.’ Remember that phrase? When the President during his first term referred to those from Africa and Haiti in profane and racist terms in the Oval Office? At the time, the White House denied that he said it. But I was there when the President made those statements, not once, but twice. I was in that meeting, and I confirmed that he used those vulgar terms referring to people from other countries. Two Republican Senators publicly accused me of lying,” Durbin said. “Well, at a rally in Pennsylvania last month, President Trump bragged that he had indeed used the slur that I referred to earlier.”
“At a Cabinet meeting last month, he [President Trump] publicly called Somali immigrants ‘garbage,’” Durbin continued.“Just yesterday, the Administration announced termination of Somalia’s designation for Temporary Protected Status.TPS allows immigrants from a country that is unsafe temporarily remain United States.Does President really think Somalia safe stable place these individuals return?I think not.He just doesn’t care.”
“These racist comments and policies have confirmed what we’ve known all along:the President deep-seated animus for immigrants who are not white,” Durbin continued.
He described recent actions against refugees arriving legally:“Last Friday,in midst federal immigration agents’ assault Minneapolis,the Department Homeland Security began arresting recently arrived refugees Minnesota.These refugees already gone through intensive vetting,sometimes years,before they’ve been allowed come United States.They followed our laws came here ‘right way,’”Durbin said.“The fraud Minnesota serious,warrants continued investigation,but punishing thousands refugees because crimes they had nothing do with just plain wrong.”
“The Administration says their immigration policies are intended protect Americans.I’m calling their bluff.What they have done,instead,is effectively halt legal immigration long list countries—all which majority non-white populations.This was their real intention all along,”Durbin continued.
“Already,lives people our immigration system—particularly people color—have been unfairly upended.Immigrants have seen long-scheduled green card interviews cancelled.Naturalization candidates pulled scheduled citizenship ceremonies.I know this true because happened my constituents,reached out my office,”Durbin said.“They rightfully upset Administration stopped them—individuals already approved citizenship—from taking oath allegiance this country.”
Durbin concluded his remarks by recalling his mother’s own experience as an immigrant:“My mother was naturalized U.S.citizen.I keep her naturalization certificate framed my office United States Capitol.Thos willing take oath allegiance our country become some most loyal citizens.My mom one them.We cannot abandon them,”Durbin said.
“We must not allow America turn its back on immigrants followed every rule make our country stronger.It would be affront Constitution retreat heritage nation immigrants…We nation immigrants,and should never forget it,”he concluded.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, where Durbin serves as Ranking Member,plays a significant rolein overseeing federal judicial matters,and influences legislation affecting constitutional rights,civil liberties,and public safety nationwide.It operates within Congressand evaluates judicial nominations while conducting oversight over law enforcement agencies.The committee's workimpacts how federal law is shaped across various issues related justice system.
