Larson, Williams, Escobar Introduce Legislation to Protect Elections from Illegal ICE Interference
Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced the introduction of the Stop ICE Election Militarization Act with Reps. Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) to protect American elections from illegal ICE interference. Their bill follows President Trump’s threats to “nationalize elections” and his adviser, Steve Bannon’s, call to deploy ICE agents to polling places.
View Rep. Larson’s full announcement here.
“We cannot allow the Trump Administration to continue to trample over our democracy, as they try to intimidate Americans out of exercising their right to vote by threatening to militarize this year’s elections,” said Larson. “From deploying ICE at polling places to purging voter rolls and handing over confidential records to private groups trying to overturn elections, their plan is clear. President Trump and his MAGA allies will do anything it takes to interfere with our elections, to shield them from accountability for their failed policies at the polls. Democrats in Connecticut and across the country are ready for this fight. We are prepared to use every tool available to ensure every citizen can cast their ballot safely and securely free from fear or intimidation. I am pleased to join with my colleagues in Congress and at the state level to stop this unprecedented election militarization scheme in its tracks.”
“Since day one of the Trump administration, the president has deployed masked, armed forces across this country to intimidate and silence marginalized communities,” said Williams. “Now, he is threatening to bring that same fear directly to our most sacred democratic spaces — our polling locations. Georgia knows all too well his repeated attempts to overturn and undermine an election. We cannot wait. We must act now to stop this dangerous threat by passing the Stop Election Militarization Act.”
“Donald Trump and his administration have made clear their intention to interfere with the midterms,” said 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.”
In Hartford, Larson announced the Stop ICE Election Militarization Act with State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Chair of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Government Administration and Elections Committee, and State House Majority Leader Json Rojas, who will be introducing state legislation to safeguard Connecticut polling places from federal intimidation. Rep. Blumenthal recently penned an op-ed in the Hartford Courant, “CT elections are under threat. We must protect them now.”
"Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are trying to intimidate or disenfranchise vast swaths of citizens in the upcoming election,” said Rep. Matt Blumenthal (D – Stamford), House Chairman of the General Assembly's Government Administration and Elections Committee. “We aren't going to let it happen here in Connecticut. The founders gave the states the power and duty to protect our elections as a bulwark against tyranny. We will not shirk that duty. We will pass strong legislation to protect our elections from any intimidation or interference--including from the federal government."
“Voting is a sacred right, and every voter deserves to cast a ballot without fear. This legislation establishes reasonable guardrails to ensure that federal enforcement activities do not interfere with or undermine confidence in our elections,” said Connecticut State House Majority Leader Jason Rojas. “By setting clear standards for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations during election periods, we strengthen both public safety and the integrity of our democratic process.”
Reps. Larson, Williams, and Escobar’s legislation, as well as the state leaders’ response in Connecticut, follows President Trump’s call to “nationalize elections,” an FBI raid at an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, a lawsuit against the State of Connecticut 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.
Earlier this month, Larson introduced a Resolution of Inquiry with every Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee probing the illegal ‘DOGE’ election interference scheme at the Social Security Administration.
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.
View full bill text HERE.