Texas Senate Democrats urge accountability for ICE agents

In a debate outside Austin on Jan. 24, 2026, the top two Democrats seeking the U.S. Senate nomination in Texas — U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico — differed on political style but converged in calling for accountability for aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The debate was held by the Texas AFL-CIO and came hours after a 37-year-old man was fatally shot by federal agents in Minnesota. Both candidates directed their sharpest criticism at the Trump administration and at ICE rather than at each other. Mr. Talarico said, "It’s time to tear down this secret police force," and urged that agents who abused power be prosecuted and "hauled before Congress so the world can see their faces." Ms.

Crockett said agents were "turning us into Nazi Germany," accused them of going door to door and targeting people "because of their accent or the color of their skin," and said "we absolutely have to clean house." The two also agreed on policies such as raising taxes on billionaires and opposing foreign-policy adventurism by President Trump, even as they emphasized different campaign approaches: Ms.

Crockett has leaned into high-profile fights and social media, while Mr. Talarico has sought to court moderates and disaffected Republicans. Early voting in the Texas primaries begins Feb.

Key Topics

Politics, Jasmine Crockett, James Talarico, Ice, Texas Afl-cio, Minnesota