2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to reduce Asylum Fraud
Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would significantly reduce asylum fraud by strengthening the credible fear standard to ensure that only those who are more than likely to be awarded asylum by an immigration judge are allowed to continue with the asylum process. Further, it would prohibit individuals who cross the border illegally from claiming asylum and prevent asylum seekers from receiving a work permit for one year after entry.

2025: (Jan. 20) Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to prevent a type of amnesty through abuse of parole.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.)

2025: (Jan. 17) Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of cloture to allow the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to move to a final vote.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The 61-35 vote allowed the Senate to proceed to the final floor vote.)

2025: (Jan. 15) Sen. Schmitt voted against the Coons amendment (S.Amdt.23) to the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to remove states' ability to sue the federal government for granting a type of mass amnesty through abuse of parole.
This amendment (by Chris Coons, D-DE) to the Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) would have stripped out the provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The amendment failed 46-49.)

2025 (Jan. 09): Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the first cloture on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), to proceed to debate and amendments.
The Laken Riley Act (by Sen. Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by granting mass parole (a form of amnesty) instead of on a case by case basis. Sixty votes were necessary to overcome a filibuster. (The cloture vote passed 84-9, allowing the Senate to proceed with amending the legislation.)

Sen. Schmitt co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to prevent a type of amnesty through abuse of parole.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision giving legal standing to states to sue the federal government if it abuses its authority by giving parole (a form of amnesty) to classes of inadmissible aliens instead of on a case by case basis. (The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.)

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to prevent amnesties for illegal border crossers
Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would reduce amnesty by strictly limiting the situations under which an administration can grant parole to illegal aliens.

Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) to fund border security.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-50 and later passed the House 218-214).

Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) to fund border security.

The Senate-amended FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides between $175 - 200 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-48 and later passed the House 216-214).
 

Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 7) to fund border security.

The FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Lindsey Graham, R-SC) is the first step towards passing the House proposal to provide $200 billion for immigration enforcement, including border wall construction and additional agents. (The resolution passed the Senate 52-48, setting up a conference with the House).

Rep. Schmitt co-sponsored the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act (S. 50) to make illicit spotting a felony and increase penalties for alien smuggling.

The Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act (by Joni Ernst, R-IA) would make illicit spotting and destruction of border controls a felony offense and reclassify alien smuggling while in possession of a firearm as a crime of violence.
 

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to strengthen border security
Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would require DHS to restart border wall construction that has been authorized for and paid for by Congress and strengthen the Secure Fence Act of 2006 by requiring physical barriers along 900 miles of border. The legislation also provides retention bonuses for Border Patrol agents and defunds efforts to resettle illegal border crossers across the country.

Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) to fund interior enforcement.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides between $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-50 and later passed the House 218-214).

Sen. Schmitt co-sponsored the Expedited Removal of Criminal Aliens Act (S. 1827) to expand expedited removal.

The Expedited Removal of Criminal Aliens Act (by Ashley Moody, R-FL) would make aliens eligible for expedited removal if they are members of gangs, criminal organizations, or foreign terrorist organizations.  The legislation would also make aliens eligible for expedited removal if they commit certain serious crimes.

Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 14) to fund interior enforcement.

The Senate-amended FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Jodey Arrington, R-TX) provides between $175 - 200 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the Senate 51-48 and later passed the House 216-214).

Sen. Schmitt co-sponsored the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (S. 707) to disincentivize offering sanctuary from law enforcement to illegal aliens.

The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act (by Jim Risch, R-ID) bars localities that ignore ICE immigration detainer requests from receiving federal funds that are intended to benefit illegal aliens.

Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the FY 2025 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 7) to fund interior enforcement.

The FY 2025 Budget Resolution (by Lindsey Graham, R-SC) is the first step towards passing the House proposal to provide $200 billion for immigration enforcement, including the government's ability to detain and remove people who are not admissible to the United States. (The resolution passed the Senate 52-48, setting up a conference with the House).

Sen. Schmitt co-sponsored the POLICE Act (S. 212) to make assaulting a police officer a deportable offense.

The POLICE Act of 2025 (by Ted Budd, R-NC) would make aliens deportable from the United States if they assault a police officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
 

2025: (Jan. 20) Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the Ernst amendment (S.Amdt. 8) to the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to expand the list of offenses that would require mandatory detention.
The amendment (by Joni Ernst, R-IA) to The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) added "assault of a law enforcement officer" and "any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person" to the list of offenses requiring mandatory detention. (The amendment passed 75-24 and was included in the final bill.)

2025: (Jan. 20) Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act (S.5) to strengthen detention requirements and give states the ability to sue the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft, assault, and bodily harm; also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.

2025: (Jan. 17) Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of cloture to allow the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to move to a final vote.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft (burglary, larceny & shoplifting); also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The 61-35 vote allowed the Senate to proceed to the final floor vote.)

2025: (Jan. 15) Sen. Schmitt voted against the Coons amendment (S.Amdt.23) to the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to remove states' ability to sue the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws.
This amendment (by Chris Coons, D-DE) to the Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) would have stripped out the provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The amendment failed 46-49.)

2025 (Jan. 09): Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of the first cloture on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to proceed to debate and amendments.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft (burglary, larceny & shoplifting); also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The cloture vote passed 84-9, allowing the Senate to proceed with amending the legislation.)

Sen. Schmitt co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act (S.5) to strengthen detention requirements and give states the ability to sue the federal government for not enforcing immigration laws.
The Laken Riley Act (by Katie Britt, R-AL) included a provision to require the detention of aliens who have been convicted or arrested for various forms of theft (burglary, larceny & shoplifting); also included provisions to give legal standing to states to sue the federal government for 1) violating "detention and removal requirements";  2) releasing aliens that go on to harm the state or its residents; and 3) violating the requirement to discontinue visas to countries who refuse to take their citizens back. (The bill passed the Senate 64-35 and passed the House 263-156.)

2023: Voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110 to H.R. 3476 to mandate E-Verify and criminalize visa overstays
Sen. Schmitt voted in favor of S. Amdt. 110, offered by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to H.R. 3476. S. Amdt. 110 would have added the House-passed H.R. 2 to the Debt Limit compromise bill. The legislation would require most employers to use E-Verify within two years to ensure that new hires are authorized to work in the United States. The legislation provides additional time for agricultural employers to comply. The bill would also make overstaying a visa a felony crime and allow Unaccompanied Alien Children from noncontiguous countries to be returned to their home countries.

2023: Sponsored S. 333 to remove time limits on the detention of illegal aliens
Sen. Schmitt sponsored S. 333, the Keep Our Communities Safe Act, introduced by Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). The legislation would allow ICE to detain illegal aliens beyond the current 6 month limit.