Schmidt Applauds Administration’s Support of States’ Immigration Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) today issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s move to dismiss two Biden era lawsuits that sought to block states’ enforcement of laws aimed at combatting illegal immigration.

"I commend the Department of Justice for dropping these lawsuits,” Congressman Schmidt said. “It was always ridiculous for the federal government to spend time and taxpayer money fighting states that were trying to stop illegal immigration. Congress should fix federal law to ensure states have a proper role in securing our borders so no future president can simultaneously surrender our borders and prevent states from standing in the gap. I intend to introduce legislation in the near future to codify this important protection."

BACKGROUND

In May 2024, the Biden administration filed suit against both Oklahoma and Iowa, seeking to block state laws allowing illegal aliens to be charged for entering the country unlawfully. These laws were passed as a result of the Biden administration’s failure to enforce federal immigration laws, which resulted in record numbers of illegal aliens entering the country from 2021-2025.

As Kansas Attorney General, Congressman Schmidt argued and won Kansas v. Garcia at the United States Supreme Court. The suit originated from three illegal aliens appealing their state convictions of identity theft on the grounds that their convictions were the result of lying on federal tax forms. The Court’s decision reaffirmed states’ ability to enforce state identity theft laws against illegal aliens.

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