Police Group Endorses ICE Protection Act
The National Police Association has endorsed the ICE Protection Act of 2026. The move comes amid reports from the Department of Homeland Security about an increase in protestors using vehicles as weapons against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The ICE Protection Act of 2026, introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), would increase penalties for assaulting federal law enforcement officers with a deadly weapon, including vehicles. The bill proposes mandatory minimum sentences of five to ten years for using a vehicle to harm an officer, with the maximum prison term for such assaults doubling from 20 to 40 years. The legislation has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is co-sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), James Lankford (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Steve Daines (R-MT). Supporters point to Department of Homeland Security data released in February 2026, which states that from January 2025 to January 2026, ICE officers experienced 68 vehicular attacks, a 3,300% increase compared to only two during the same period the previous year. Another DHS report from November 2025 cited a 1,300% increase in vehicular assaults against ICE agents since January 20, 2024. However, some of the DHS's claims about vehicle attacks have faced skepticism. A federal judge reviewing incidents in Chicago found the department's characterization of events "difficult, if not impossible, to believe" after reviewing evidence. In at least one case, prosecutors dropped charges of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon after video evidence did not support the initial claims. This bill comes amid a broader debate on immigration enforcement tactics. Other proposed legislation, like the "ICE Standards Act," seeks to increase agent accountability through mandatory body cameras, de-escalation training, and clearer identification standards. At the state level, lawmakers in New York and New Jersey have introduced bills to limit local law enforcement's cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The National Police Association has also endorsed other legislation aimed at protecting immigration officers, including the "Halo Act," which would create 25-foot buffer zones around federal immigration officers engaged in enforcement. The association argues such measures are necessary due to a surge in threats and harassment against officers.
