Vermont’s sole U.S. House member, Rep. Becca Balint, has found herself at the center of a political storm after a video emerged of her making controversial remarks on immigration. During the incident, Balint warned Vermonters that if the federal government does not increase immigration to the U.S., the state would face a labor shortage so severe that it would be ‘not going to have anyone around to wipe our a–es.’ The remarks, which were widely criticized for their crude language and perceived disrespect toward immigrants, have prompted calls for an apology from the Vermont Republican Party Chairman and other critics, citing the ‘disturbing sentiment’ that immigrants are primarily seen as laborers for the ‘dignity of others.’
The backlash against Balint has intensified as she continues to defend her comments as a necessary call to action on the urgent issue of labor shortages and the need for an orderly immigration system. Balint emphasized that the remarks were made during a discussion on the state’s economic and agricultural challenges, where she highlighted the existential threat that the current immigration policies pose to Vermont’s agri-business and the need for more workers to fill critical jobs. Balint also condemned the Trump administration’s handling of immigration, calling it ‘immoral’ and ‘cruel’ for its targeted practices against immigrant families, and reaffirmed her commitment to immigrant rights and fair wages for workers, from doctors and scientists to carpenters and farmworkers.
While some critics, including Vermont’s Republican candidates, have taken the remarks as an affront to Vermont’s traditional values and a reflection of an ‘entitled’ mindset among Democrats, others have pointed out the need for a more balanced approach to immigration that respects immigrants’ dignity while addressing labor shortages. Despite the controversy, Balint has maintained her position that immigrants and refugees are welcome in Vermont and that every worker, regardless of their background, deserves dignity and fair wages. She has also reiterated her condemnation of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and her unwavering support for immigrant rights and the humane treatment of all individuals in the U.S.