Sen. eric schmitt defended federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota and publicly backed legal efforts to limit birthright citizenship, his office and local coverage reported.
Schmitt told reporters and on the Senate floor that federal agents carrying out arrests in Minnesota were doing lawful work and should not be compared to an “occupation,” according to coverage by KRCG and the Missouri Independent reporting on his January remarks.
Separately, Schmitt has taken multiple steps to challenge U.S. birthright citizenship. His Senate press office published statements saying he filed an amicus brief supporting efforts to restrict automatic citizenship and later introduced legislation described as aiming to restore the scope of citizenship to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
Schmitt’s office framed the birthright challenge as a response to what it called abuses such as “birth tourism,” language used in a March press release on his Senate site. The Missouri senator also signed an amicus brief backing an executive order and has sponsored bills, according to his Senate releases and a January 29 statement linked from a House GOP office.
ICE itself noted a working relationship with Schmitt: an ICE news release credited the senator with helping secure funding to address immigration enforcement challenges, citing $350 million that the agency said would help operations, detention and removals.
Advocates and local outlets reported Schmitt’s remarks drew criticism from Minnesota Democrats who compared aggressive enforcement to an occupation; the senator rejected that comparison on the Senate floor, according to the Missouri Independent.
Schmitt has also framed legislation such as the “Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act” as closing loopholes; the bill text and his July press release describe limiting citizenship to children of citizens and lawful permanent residents.
As the policy debate proceeds, congressional hearings and court litigation have kept birthright citizenship in the headlines this year, with Senate subcommittee hearings and public testimony cited on C-SPAN and in press accounts covering the issue.
Sources
- KRCG — reported Schmitt defended Minnesota ICE operations on Jan. 29, 2026.
- Missouri Independent — covered Schmitt’s Senate-floor remarks defending ICE agents.
- Senator Eric Schmitt (senate.gov) — press releases showing his statements, amicus brief support and introduced legislation on birthright citizenship.
- ICE — agency news release crediting Schmitt with helping secure funding for enforcement operations.
- Columbia Missourian — reported Schmitt filed an amicus brief in support of limiting birthright citizenship.
- Fox2now — summarized Schmitt’s positions on defending ICE and backing legal challenges to birthright citizenship.
Related reading: Immigration and Customs Enforcement draws renewed political scrutiny in US and Lance Schroyer nomination withdrawn by White House to lead ICE.
