Overview

• At a May 28 town hall in Newport, Vermont, Balint warned that limiting legal immigration would leave no one to perform “undesirable” tasks, saying there would be “no one around to wipe our a–ses.”
• Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame labeled the remark a “disturbing sentiment” that shows disrespect for immigrants who abide by U.S. rules.
• The National Republican Congressional Committee seized on Balint’s comment as proof of a Democratic push for open borders.
• Mark Coester, Balint’s 2026 GOP opponent, mocked the congresswoman on social media and tied the remark to questions about her competence.
• Critics note that the Immigration and Nationality Act already provides legal pathways and cite 2025 CPS data showing U.S.-born workers remain the majority in every job category, even lower-status roles.