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Congresswoman Escobar Introduces Legislation to Protect Elections from Illegal ICE Interference

Washington, D.C., February 25, 2026 | Abbey Thompson (202-225-4831)

On Friday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), along with Representatives John Larson (CT-1) and Nikema Williams (GA-5), introduced the Stop ICE Election Militarization Act to protect American elections from illegal ICE interference. This bill follows President Trump’s threats to “nationalize elections” and his adviser, Steve Bannon’s, call to deploy ICE agents to polling places.

“Donald Trump and his administration have made clear their intention to interfere with the midterms,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “His effort began when he called the Texas Governor and Attorney General, asking for five more Republican seats which set off Texas’ aggressive gerrymandering. Kristi Noem has announced that she will do everything possible to ensure the ‘right people voting, electing the right leaders.’ And Steve Bannon announced that the administration would be sending ICE agents to polling locations in November. This already occurred in California during the Prop 50 election. It’s a troubling pattern of using government power to suppress voter turnout, diminish certain voices, and threaten our democracy. That is why introducing the Stop ICE Militarization Act is necessary to draw a clear line between immigration enforcement and the electoral process, ensuring that federal agents are never used to intimidate voters or influence election outcomes.”

This legislation follows President Trump’s call to “nationalize elections,” an FBI raid at an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, a lawsuits against states for refusing to turn over confidential voter information to the Trump Administration, and a Department of Justice court filing revealing ‘DOGE’ employees signed an agreement to turn over Social Security data to a MAGA-affiliated group working to overturn election results.

The Stop ICE Election Militarization Act: 

  • Explicitly prevents immigration enforcement entities, including ICE from being deployed at polling places and creates criminal penalties for officers violating the law. 
  • Prevents the wide scale intimidation of communities by banning non-targeted, non-criminal immigration enforcement operations, such as traffic stops, within four weeks of an election.  
You can view the full bill text HERE.
In addition to the STOP ICE Militarization Act, Congresswoman Escobar has introduced the VISIBLE Act, a bill that would require immigration enforcement officers to clearly display visible identification during public enforcement actions. She has also cosponsored the ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act, the impeachment of Secretary Noem, and more.
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