Sponsors (12)
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Bars immigration officers from interfering with elections by adding them to the federal crime that prohibits obstructing or intimidating voters and election officials. It also prevents immigration enforcement or removals during the four weeks before any federal election, with narrow exceptions for operations that target a specific individual based on criminal probable cause or that are necessary to prevent imminent death or serious injury.
The bill reduces pre-election immigration enforcement to protect voters, election workers, and the administration of elections, at the cost of limiting enforcement flexibility (and potentially increasing short-term public-safety, legal, and fiscal burdens).
Voters, election workers, and election administrators face less intimidation and disruption near polling places because broad immigration enforcement actions are restricted in the month before federal elections, improving safe access and continuity of election administration.
Individuals who are not the subject of particularized criminal suspicion (including many noncitizen community members) are less likely to be caught up in enforcement sweeps shortly before federal elections, reducing risks of wrongful detention or disruption to families and communities.
Serious-emergency enforcement to prevent imminent death or serious injury remains allowed, preserving authorities' ability to respond to urgent public-safety threats despite the pre-election restriction.
Immigration agencies have reduced flexibility to conduct broader or preventive enforcement operations in the four weeks before federal elections, which could briefly allow some dangerous individuals to avoid arrest and complicate national-security or public-safety efforts.
Including immigration officers within the election-interference statute increases legal exposure for frontline officers, which could affect staffing, morale, or lead to defensive operational changes.
Postponing enforcement actions around elections may create additional costs or delays for taxpayers and public agencies if operations must be rescheduled and become more complex later.
Amends 18 U.S.C. §593 to insert immigration officers alongside other officers in the statute’s provisions prohibiting interference with elections.
Prohibits any immigration enforcement or removal operation during the 4-week period before a federal election except in specified circumstances.
Limits allowed enforcement operations in that 4-week pre-election window to operations based on particularized criminal probable cause related to a particular individual.
Limits allowed enforcement operations in that 4-week pre-election window to operations necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury.
Who is affected and how:
Immigrants: Likely to see reduced risk of enforcement actions and removals in the four weeks before federal elections, except for those specifically targeted under the exceptions. This may lower fear of deportation around voting times.
Federal employees (immigration officers): Will face new criminal prohibitions on election interference and operational restrictions on when and how they may conduct enforcement; agencies must update policies and training.
Border and local communities: Areas that frequently experience enforcement operations may see a temporary reduction in broad sweeps or publicized actions during the pre-election window.
Local and state election officials: Could experience fewer disruptions and lower risk of voter intimidation from immigration actions in the critical pre-election period.
Law enforcement and justice system: May see increased need to assess and document probable cause or imminent-danger justifications for any immigration operations that occur during the blackout period; potential disputes could lead to litigation.
Overall effects:
Operational: Federal immigration agencies will likely adjust timing, scope, and documentation of enforcement actions to comply with the prohibition and its exceptions.
Legal and administrative: The bill tightens criminal liability for election-related interference by immigration officers and creates standards that could spawn disputes about applicability and adequacy of agency justifications.
Political and social: The restriction aims to protect election integrity and voter confidence but may be politically contested by those who view it as limiting enforcement; it could reduce enforcement visibility near elections and change public perceptions of safety or rule of law.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced February 20, 2026 by John B. Larson · Last progress February 20, 2026
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Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House