Dem Lambasted for Controversial Remarks on Immigration: “We’re Not Going to Have Anyone Around to Wipe Our A--es”

Vermont’s single U.S. House representative, Becca Balint, found herself at the center of political controversy on Tuesday after a video surfaced showing her making pointed remarks about the nation’s immigration policy. In the now-viral footage, Balint warned Vermonters that without an increase in federal immigration, “we’re not going to have anyone around to wipe our a--es.” The comment sparked immediate backlash, especially from Vermont Republicans, who called the language inappropriate and the sentiment “disturbing.”

Paul Dame, Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, demanded an apology from Balint, criticizing both her choice of words and the underlying message. Dame stated that it was offensive to suggest the primary reason for welcoming immigrants is to perform what he described as labor “beneath the dignity of others.” He added, “It seems that every month, Vermonters are subjected to coarse and vulgar language from our federal representatives. At the heart of these remarks is an opinion so offensive and so profoundly out of touch that it reveals a fundamental lack of respect for those who come to this country – abiding by the rules – in pursuit of freedom, opportunity, and a better life.”

The fallout extended beyond party leaders. Mark Coester, a small business owner and Republican candidate opposing Balint in 2026, drew attention to a recent ICE operation in the same town where Balint spoke, which resulted in the arrest of several construction workers. “Pack em up, fly em out,” Coester posted on X, in direct criticism of both Balint and Senator Bernie Sanders’ condemnation of the ICE raid. Former state Senate candidate Paul Bean also chimed in, accusing the congresswoman of disrespecting skilled tradespeople, warning, “Only an entitled Vermont Democrat would say such a thing… [she] thinks you are basically a--wipers.”

Balint’s comments came during a speech in Newport, near the Canadian border, where she recalled having her middle school students take the U.S. citizenship test as a classroom exercise. Addressing immigration reform, she emphasized the essential role immigrants play in Vermont’s agriculture industry and workforce, calling the current situation “existential.” She stated, “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 anyone around to wipe our asses – because we don’t have enough people in our country now to fill the jobs that we have right now, but we have to make sure those folks are getting a decent wage and making sure that their rights are protected…”

Balint clarified her position further, stressing that supporting secure borders is “not xenophobic,” but she did criticize what she described as “lawlessness” from the Trump administration’s ICE and Homeland Security agencies. Her statements underscore the ongoing debate over how to balance border security with the economic needs of the state and country—debate that shows few signs of cooling down as Vermont heads into another election season.