Just four days before a deadly terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado carried out by an Egyptian national who had overstayed a visa and violated immigration conditions, Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint told constituents that immigration enforcement in the U.S. has become “lawless” and painted federal immigration officers as overreaching.
At a town hall held May 28, 2025, at North Country Union High School in Newport, Balint fielded questions on a range of issues including education funding, political division, and immigration policy. Her remarks on labor shortages and border enforcement have since drawn scrutiny in light of the June 1 attack in Boulder.
Balint’s Framing of Immigration as an Economic Imperative
Balint addressed immigration during a segment focused on labor needs in rural America. Responding to a comment about U.S. immigration policy and worker shortages, she said:
“We have to come to a place in Congress where it is no longer a political issue but we see it as an existential issue for the country. If we don’t have avenues for people to come here legally to work or to build a home here, I’m going to be really crude right now—we’re not going to have anybody around to wipe our asses because we don’t have enough people in our country now to fill the jobs that we have.”
The statement was met with laughter and applause in the room, but in hindsight has raised questions about whether Balint minimized national security risks in favor of economic rhetoric.
Balint did not offer data on labor trends, visa categories, or wage enforcement programs, nor did she address how existing immigration law attempts to balance workforce needs with border controls. Her comments focused instead on moral framing, stating that the U.S. economy “is completely bound up in immigration and migrant labor.”
Criticism of ICE and Homeland Security
Balint went on to criticize immigration authorities, referring to the current enforcement climate as “lawlessness.” She said:
“We have a fair amount of lawlessness that is happening among ICE and Homeland Security that was not anything I think that most voters wanted. What they wanted was to know that there was a secure border, that there would be pathways to citizenship, and that the rules would be the same for everybody.”
She also stated that individuals were being targeted unjustly:
“People are following the rules at every step of the way and they are still being carted off and kidnapped and not being allowed to have access to their attorneys. I don’t think that’s who we want to be as a nation.”
Balint did not cite any specific case of misconduct or provide evidence for the claims of kidnapping or denial of legal counsel. No federal investigation or oversight report was referenced to substantiate the charge of “lawlessness.”
No Distinction Between Entry Categories
Throughout her comments, Balint did not clarify whether she was referring to illegal border crossers, asylum seekers, visa overstayers, or legal permanent residents. She expressed support for “pathways to citizenship” but did not address the legal consequences of visa violations, asylum denials, or immigration fraud.
The distinction became more relevant after the Boulder attack on June 1. The attacker, originally from Egypt, entered the U.S. on a visitor visa, later applied for asylum, received a work permit while the case was pending, and then remained in the country after the asylum claim was denied. No removal action was successfully taken prior to the attack.
Balint’s comments at the town hall made no mention of how such enforcement gaps could be addressed.
Focus on Emotion Over Policy Detail
Much of Balint’s immigration discussion leaned on emotional framing rather than legal or procedural analysis. She emphasized dignity, fairness, and the economic role of immigrants but did not outline concrete policies or legislative proposals.
Her remarks included:
- No discussion of visa overstay rates or enforcement follow-up mechanisms.
- No mention of national security screenings or post-entry monitoring.
- No proposals for improving asylum review or deportation efficiency.
- No clarification on which federal policies she believes should be reformed or repealed.
Balint stated that immigration should no longer be a political issue but did not provide a policy pathway to achieve bipartisan reform.
Town Hall Timing and Aftermath
The timing of the remarks has drawn attention because of the events in Boulder. The attacker, according to federal sources, should not have remained in the U.S. after his legal status expired. Though not a border-crossing case, the incident highlighted deficiencies in follow-up enforcement—precisely the kind of functions carried out by agencies Balint sharply criticized.
Balint has not publicly revised or clarified her remarks since the Boulder attack.
Constituent Response and Ongoing Debate
At the town hall, Balint received positive feedback from attendees, many of whom applauded her focus on empathy and equity in immigration. However, the lack of factual support or distinctions in her statements may raise concerns among constituents seeking clarity on her policy views amid a shifting national security environment.
Whether her framing resonates with Vermonters outside the room—particularly in light of recent events—remains to be seen. But the contrast between rhetoric and real-world consequences has become more pointed.
As immigration policy remains front and center in the national debate, elected officials like Rep. Balint may be called to provide more than compassion and criticism. They may be asked to deliver specifics.
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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