Democratic Congresswoman Becca Balint of Vermont is under fire after making a stunningly crude remark at a recent town hall while defending mass immigration. Speaking to constituents in Newport, Balint attempted to justify looser immigration policies by suggesting that without more foreign labor, Americans would be left without workers for the most basic tasks.
“We’re not gonna have anyone around to wipe our asses,” Balint said, referring to perceived labor shortages and the need for immigrant workers to fill essential jobs. Though she admitted the language was “crass,” she doubled down on her broader message—that without increased legal immigration, everyday services could collapse due to a lack of workers.
Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) says that if we don’t allow migrants to flood our country, then “we’re not gonna have anybody around to wipe our asses.”pic.twitter.com/5iErz2IVbj
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 4, 2025
The comment triggered immediate backlash from Republicans and immigration advocates alike. Vermont GOP Chairman Paul Dame condemned Balint’s remarks as “demeaning and degrading,” accusing the congresswoman of reducing immigrants to toilet cleaners instead of recognizing the full breadth of their talents and contributions.
“Immigrants in Vermont aren’t here to be janitors for the liberal elite,” Dame said. “They’re business owners, engineers, caregivers, and patriots. Reducing them to that kind of language shows how Democrats really view the working class—as tools, not people.”
Critics argue that Balint’s comments reveal the elitist mindset driving open-border policies: use cheap foreign labor to patch up broken systems while ignoring the strain on housing, healthcare, and wages for American citizens. Instead of promoting self-reliance and economic opportunity for Americans, they say, Democrats like Balint are pushing a dependency model where the nation’s needs are outsourced to imported labor.
So far, Balint’s office has offered no apology and has not walked back her remarks.
The controversy comes as President Trump continues to champion a merit-based immigration system focused on securing the border, raising wages, and putting American workers first. Meanwhile, Democrats appear increasingly comfortable using inflammatory rhetoric to rationalize policies that critics say favor globalist priorities over national interests.