John Barrasso
Role at the time: Senate majority whip
Statement summary
On the Senate floor during the fight over Department of Homeland Security funding, Barrasso said Democrats were demanding that polling places be added to a list of sensitive locations. He said, "Illegal immigrants should not be at polling places and certainly not illegal immigrant criminals", and that, taken together, the Democratic conditions mean "Polling locations would become a sanctuary location for illegal immigrant criminals".
“Illegal immigrants should not be at polling places and certainly not illegal immigrant criminals. Now the Democrats want to add this to their list of sensitive locations. … Taken together, these conditions would materially slow immigration enforcement in this Nation. Polling locations would become a sanctuary location for illegal immigrant criminals--people allowed to roam free in our communities.”
Official Senate record of Sen. John Barrasso's floor remarks on February 12, 2026, after the minority leader said Democrats would vote against funding the Department of Homeland Security. Barrasso lists Democratic demands, including a ban on immigration enforcement at sensitive locations that would include polling places.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places in the 2026 election. Barrasso opposed a proposed ban on immigration enforcement at polling places, arguing that with the other Democratic conditions it would make them a sanctuary for illegal immigrant criminals. He spoke of immigration enforcement generally and did not say ICE or armed agents would go to polling places, but he argued against barring enforcement there, which defends allowing it. Mixed or conditional loses because he described no condition under which agents would stay away.