Senate Republicans Propose Bill to Address Rising Attacks on Immigration Officers
On Thursday, Senate Republicans introduced a bill aiming to tackle the increasing violence against federal immigration officers. The initiative, led by Texas Senator John Cornyn, seeks to impose harsher penalties on individuals who assault or resist law enforcement. According to the bill, there would also be minimum penalties for those who use vehicles in such attacks.
This legislation, termed the ICE Protection Act, is a response to alarming data from the Department of Homeland Security. Notably, vehicular attacks against ICE officers surged by 3,200% from January 21, 2025, to January 7, 2026, while there was a 1,374% rise in assaults during that same timeframe.
These statistics were released following a tragic incident in Minneapolis where ICE agents fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Goode, who had reportedly accelerated her vehicle toward them. One officer was hospitalized due to internal bleeding from the encounter, which occurred after Goode tried to block the road to evade arrest.
Cornyn remarked on the situation, stating, “The radical left is waging a senseless crusade against the brave men and women of law enforcement,” arguing that inflammatory rhetoric from Democrats is exacerbating the violence, endangering communities, and jeopardizing those they are sworn to protect.
Democratic Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, currently campaigning to challenge Cornyn in the primaries, drew attention last September by likening ICE agents to “slave patrols” during a radio discussion.
Key features of Cornyn’s proposed legislation include raising the maximum penalty for assaulting law enforcement from 20 to 40 years, along with establishing mandatory minimum sentences ranging from three to ten years for vehicular assaults, depending on injury severity.
Cornyn emphasized that the bill conveys a strong message: attacks on law enforcement will face serious legal consequences. Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, a co-sponsor, echoed this sentiment, asserting that those who harm ICE agents will encounter the full force of the justice system.
The bill counts among its sponsors Sen. James Lankford (OK), Sen. Bill Hagerty (TN), Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (WY), and Sen. Steve Daines (MT). It has gained the endorsement of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
As a long-serving senator since 2002, Cornyn is gearing up for a competitive three-way primary in the upcoming November elections, facing challenges from Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt. All candidates are projected to receive over 50% in the March 3 primary, with the top two advancing to a runoff.
