At a recent press conference in Montpelier’s Statehouse, U.S. Representative Becca Balint, a Democrat from Vermont, addressed the subject of small donation campaign finance reform legislation. This is one of the many initiatives Balint has been instrumental in pushing forward. However, her endeavours have recently been overshadowed by controversy surrounding comments she made about immigrant labour.
The flashpoint for controversy was a town hall meeting held in Newport, where Balint was holding discussions with her constituents. During this event, an audience member inquired about her stance on former President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. Balint’s response stirred up more than she may have bargained for.
According to the Vermont representative, the lack of legal immigrants in the country would mean ‘not having anyone to take care of our fundamental needs.’ She followed this up by adding, ‘Everyone knows the agricultural system in Vermont would falter without the consistent input of migrant workers – that’s an undeniable truth. Our economy, in its very essence, depends on immigration and migrant labour.’
Despite her strong point about the crucial role of immigrants in the economy, Balint’s choice of words sparked an unintended backlash. She later admitted her language was ‘inexact and thoughtless.’ She regretfully acknowledged the fallout from her comments and vowed to learn from her mistakes.
Inspecting the repercussion of her commentary, Balint stated, ‘I want to tender my apologies to each person who felt wronged by my remarks. And most importantly, I want the people of Vermont to know, irrespective of this incident, my position remains the same.’ She doubled down on her commitment to uphold the dignity and enhanced wages the immigrants deserve in the nation.
Aiming to rectify her blunder, Balint said her original intention was to highlight the critical part immigrants play in Vermont’s and America’s economy at large. She accepted that her message came off as a ‘slip-up,’ and that her words detracted from her primary message.
Soon after the incident, a video featuring Balint’s contentious remarks during the Newport town hall event went viral. Right-wing groups and media outlets picked up on this, causing an uproar in conservative circles. As a result, she faced considerable criticism for her ill-chosen language.
Among the critics was Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, who denigrated Balint’s utterances as ‘strange and dehumanising’. He expressed his displeasure by resharing the video of Balint’s commentary. Vermont Republican Party Chairman Paul Dame joined the chorus of critics, describing her words as ‘crude and offensive’ and demanded a public apology.
In an act of rebuttal, Balint shed light on incidents that exposed the incendiary rhetoric often used against immigrants by conservatives themselves. This came during a period of heightened immigration law enforcement, both nationwide and specifically in Vermont, under the previous administration.
The critique from Balint came after an impactful event in Newport Town, where ten migrant construction workers were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. This was notably the largest immigration enforcement maneuver in the state’s recent history.
This large-scale intervention follows another incident in March, where federal agents apprehended eight migrant workers on a dairy farm in Berkshire. Such incidents have sparked discourse about the overly harsh measures employed by the immigration enforcement agencies.
Reflecting on her uncharitable description of immigrant labor, Balint acknowledged her ‘needless blunder’ making it harder to focus on the ongoing issues. She expressed frustration over how such an incident diverted public attention.
In her closing remarks, Balint squarely addressed those who continue to demonize immigrants. She said, ‘The real issue that bothers me about this regrettable misstep is that it distracts from those who continue to peddle hatred and division and stoke unfounded fears against immigrants, migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.’
In the end, Balint’s intention to showcase the importance of immigrant labor in the Vermont and broader US economy was clear. However, her chosen language did not help her cause. Her experience serves as a reminder that, in the political arena, words matter just as much as actions.