Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has urged Congress to approve legislation that would grant the federal government expanded authority to revoke citizenship and deport individuals who commit crimes or obtain citizenship through fraud.
During an interview on Fox, Schmitt reiterated his push for the measure as a partial government shutdown continues disrupting operations within the Department of Homeland Security.
“This is just the height of stupidity by the Democrats,” Schmitt stated during the broadcast. “It’s essentially a temper tantrum because they don’t like President Trump.”
The proposed Protect America Act would broaden criteria for denaturalizing individuals who gain citizenship but later engage in criminal activities, including fraud or terrorism support.
“Citizenship should mean something,” Schmitt said. “The deportations need to continue, and we also need to expand the category of people who can be denaturalized and sent home.”
The ongoing DHS funding impasse has stretched for weeks, with Democrats requiring changes to immigration enforcement policies as a condition for approving federal legislation.
Schmitt criticized Democrats: “You can cry about it; you can whine about it. You lost an election over it.”
Republicans have introduced multiple bills aimed at funding key DHS components such as the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Coast Guard, but these proposals have encountered opposition from Democrats.
In a statement released when the legislation was first introduced earlier this year, Schmitt emphasized: “The rule of law is central to our constitutional order. A nation that does not enforce its immigration laws cannot effectively protect its people.”
The Protect America Act would implement four critical measures: permanently ending sanctuary city designations for illegal aliens, enhancing penalties for unauthorized entry and reentry, strengthening protections for law enforcement officers, and defunding rogue non-governmental organizations.
