During a Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing focused on immigration enforcement, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) drew a parallel between the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II, a bold statement made at the U.S. Capitol.
During remarks delivered from the Senate floor, Durbin said, “There was only one parallel in history that I can think of that has occurred in my lifetime, and that of course, would be the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War Two.”
Durbin’s comments are part of his longstanding dedication to immigration issues. He has been a vocal advocate for broad immigration reforms, frequently opposing stricter measures against illegal immigrants and consistently portraying immigration as a fundamental aspect of American identity.
In March 2024, Durbin successfully blocked a GOP-supported bill that aimed to mandate ICE detention for illegal immigrants accused of violent offenses. He argued that such a policy would undermine due process rights. This proposed legislation, introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), was intended to ensure detention until trial to avoid releases under more lenient local laws.
Earlier this year, Durbin commemorated the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, celebrating its recipients as “the future of our country.” He has been a steadfast proponent of the DREAM Act, which seeks to grant permanent legal status and a citizenship pathway to millions of undocumented immigrants.
Durbin’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of foreign nationals is a defining feature of his career. In a 2018 NPR interview, he affirmed the United States as a “nation of immigrants,” emphasizing diversity as a core strength and opposing efforts to reduce legal immigration. This belief aligns with his extensive leadership in immigration matters, originating with the introduction of the DREAM Act alongside former Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
His advocacy has not been without controversy. In 2013, Durbin addressed a May Day march in Chicago, which included socialist and anarchist participants, urging the gathering to support “immigration reform.” Responding to criticism, Durbin justified his involvement by citing the Constitution’s support for free speech, asserting his belief in protecting the expression rights of all groups.
Durbin has also worked with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on H-1B visa reforms. In September 2025, the pair sent a letter to major technology CEOs questioning why companies were laying off American workers while continuing to hire foreign employees under visa programs. The letter cited concerns about wage disparities and the impact on American workers.
Durbin has also joined Republican colleagues to propose reforms to the lesser-known L-1 visa program, which allows multinational corporations to transfer foreign employees to the United States. The bipartisan proposal would impose new wage standards and time limits on both L-1 and H-1B visa holders to prevent abuse of the programs by firms replacing American professionals with cheaper foreign labor.
His broader legislative record underscores his consistent role as one of the Senate’s most active voices on immigration. From advocating amnesty negotiations with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) following migrant deaths at the southern border in 2022 to denouncing the term “chain migration” as offensive despite having used it himself in a White House meeting days earlier, Durbin has maintained his long-standing argument that immigration defines America’s national character.
