WATCH: Senator Schmitt Demands Passage of Bill to Strip Citizenship from Criminal ‘Legal’ Migrants

Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is ramping up pressure on Congress to pass his legislation expanding denaturalization and deportation powers, targeting even “legal” migrants who commit fraud or serious crimes.

Schmitt’s call comes amid a chaotic partial government shutdown that’s crippled the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), leaving TSA agents unpaid and airports in disarray as Democrats dig in their heels over demands to weaken ICE enforcement.

Appearing on Fox News on Monday, Schmitt blasted the Democrats for causing the chaos.

“This is just the height of stupidity by the Democrats. It’s essentially a temper tantrum because they don’t like President Trump,” Schmitt explained, highlighting how the shutdown is exacerbating national security risks at a time of heightened terror threats.

The senator’s proposed Protect America Act would broaden the criteria for revoking citizenship and deporting individuals involved in fraud, support for terrorism, or other crimes.

“Citizenship should mean something,” Schmitt said on Fox, arguing that fraudsters and criminals have no place in America. “The deportations need to continue, and we also need to expand the category of people who can be denaturalized and sent home.”

The DHS standoff, now into its 27th day, stems from Senate Democrats blocking funding bills unless Republicans agree to overhaul ICE operations.

“You can cry about it. You can whine about it. You lost an election over it,” Schmitt said of immigration enforcement.

WATCH:

Sen. Eric Schmitt: “The deportations need to continue and we also need to expand the category of people who can be denaturalized and sent home” pic.twitter.com/WdcZXaDf4F

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 16, 2026

Republicans, holding firm, have voted multiple times to fund DHS components like TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, only to be shot down by Democrats.

“The rule of law is central to our Constitutional order. A nation that does not enforce its immigration laws cannot effectively protect its people. Today, as we sit at the inflection point between two competing visions for our country — one rooted in chaos and lawlessness; the other in law and order — I am introducing a four-point plan to defend American sovereignty, restore immigration enforcement, defund rogue left-wing NGOs, and protect law enforcement. To secure our future, we must enforce our laws. The American people deserve no less,” Schmitt said in a February statement when the legislation was introduced.

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