ICE Protection Act Would Add Mandatory Prison Terms For Assaults Using Vehicles

Washington — A new Senate proposal would increase federal penalties when someone assaults a federal law enforcement officer using a motor vehicle, including cases involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The measure, titled the “ICE Protection Act of 2026,” was introduced Jan. 15, 2026, by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and several co-sponsors, and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill amends 18 U.S.C. § 111, the federal law covering assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. It rewrites the “enhanced penalties” section to spell out tougher punishment when a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, including when a weapon is intended to cause harm but fails because of a defective component.

A key change addresses cases where the “weapon” is a motor vehicle. If an assault using a vehicle results in bodily injury, the bill sets a mandatory minimum of five years in prison; substantial bodily injury would trigger seven years; and serious bodily injury would trigger 10 years, according to the text.

What parents should know: This proposal does not change school discipline rules or campus policing directly, but it could affect federal prosecutions in incidents near federal facilities or operations. Families may want to talk with teens and young adults about traffic-stop safety, protest safety, and the legal risks of using a car to threaten or strike anyone.

Next, the bill would need committee action before any Senate vote. Parents can track updates through Congress’ official bill pages and Judiciary Committee notices.