Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduce Legislation to Protect Elections from Illegal ICE Interference

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduces the Stop ICE Election Militarization Act with Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) to protect American elections from illegal ICE interference. The bill follows President Trump’s threats to “nationalize elections” and his adviser, Steve Bannon’s, call to deploy ICE agents to polling places. 

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said: 

“Since day one of the Trump administration, the president has deployed masked, armed forces across this country to intimidate and silence marginalized communities. 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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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.