Rep Ramirez Statement on ICE Obtaining Voting Files

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), co-chair of the Congressional Anti-Corruption and Democracy Reform Task Force, released the following statement after reports of ICE gathering voter files of two counties. According to the reports, agents from the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) asked election officials in Texas for specific voter files.

“For years, Donald Trump has spread lies about the 2020 election and voter fraud. But let’s be clear: Donald Trump lost in 2020 and his own appointed commission disbanded without identifying a single case of voter fraud. 

Since coming back to power, Donald Trump and his administration have weaponized fear and division and abused every authority and power to erode social trust and undermine our democratic institutions. He has systematically attacked our voting rights, attempting to eliminate mail-in ballots, demanding voter rolls of Democratic cities, raiding election centers, threatening to station the National Guard and armed ICE agents at election locations, and deploying HSI to obtain voting files. All while he lies to convince you that the problem is noncitizen voting and not his blatant attempt to steal the next election. He, like all desperate wanna-be-authoritarians, must try to end free and fair elections in order to cling to power. 

As I said before, the rise of authoritarianism and fascism in our nation is being facilitated by the Department of Homeland Security. DHS is a weapon to be pointed against anyone whom those in power deem a public enemy. The Trump administration is using DHS to violate our rights, erode our privacy, chill dissent, and consolidate power. We will not concede the power of the people.

We must fight back against Trump’s authoritarian regime, and that work includes dismantling DHS and reimagining our approach to national security. We must not sacrifice our rights and liberties under the pretense of securing our safety. We can see where that road leads, and we will not bend the knee to the authoritarians in office.”

Background:

In March 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring documented proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demanding that all ballots be received by Election Day. Since then, DHS has been tasked with investigating voter fraud and pushing the SAVE database to local election officials.