New Texas Democratic Rep Vows to 'Tear ICE Up From the Roots'

Christian Menefee, the newly elected U.S. House member, promises to fight against Trump's immigration agenda.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Christian Menefee, the newly elected Democratic U.S. House representative from Texas' 18th Congressional District, has vowed to "tear ICE up from the roots" and fight against President Trump's immigration policies. Menefee, a 37-year-old former Harris County attorney, defeated fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards in a runoff election to represent the solidly Democratic district encompassing much of inner-city Houston.

Why it matters

Menefee's victory and his strong rhetoric against ICE and the Trump administration's immigration agenda signal a shift in the political landscape, with Democrats taking a more aggressive stance on immigration issues. This could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress and the direction of federal immigration policy.

The details

In his victory speech, Menefee promised to "fight each and every day to impeach Kristi Noem, to tear ICE up from the roots, and to fix this country's broken immigration system." He also sent a direct message to President Trump, saying the election results were a "mandate" for him to "oppose your agenda, to fight back against where you're taking this country and to investigate your crimes."

  • Menefee was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on January 31, 2026.

The players

Christian Menefee

The newly elected Democratic U.S. House representative from Texas' 18th Congressional District, a 37-year-old former Harris County attorney.

Kristi Noem

The current governor of South Dakota, who Menefee vowed to impeach.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose immigration agenda and policies Menefee vowed to fight against.

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What they’re saying

“Somewhere in the 18th congressional district, there's an immigrant who's terrified that ICE, masked ICE agents, going to kick in their door and take them back to a land that they haven't been for a very long time. [flash] And that's how you know that when I go into Congress, I'm going to fight each and every day to impeach Kristi Noem, to tear ICE up from the roots, and to fix this country's broken immigration system.”

— Christian Menefee, U.S. House member-elect (marketscreener.com)

“President Trump, my message to you is this: you've gone nearly a year without hearing from the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas. The results here tonight are a mandate for me to work as hard as I can to oppose your agenda, to fight back against where you're taking this country and to investigate your crimes. And I look forward to doing so if y'all know me.”

— Christian Menefee, U.S. House member-elect (marketscreener.com)

What’s next

Menefee will be sworn in as the new U.S. House representative for Texas' 18th Congressional District in the coming weeks, where he will begin working to fulfill his campaign promises.

The takeaway

Menefee's victory and his strong rhetoric against the Trump administration's immigration policies signal a shift in the Democratic party's approach to these issues, with a new generation of progressive leaders emerging who are willing to take a more confrontational stance against the Republican agenda.