Staff Reports
James Talarico just told a national audience he never supported abolishing ICE. Then his old words showed up on social media like a bad receipt you can’t return. In a tight Texas Senate race, that kind of mismatch matters. Voters deserve straight answers, not political smoke and mirrors.
Talarico’s CNN town hall denial — and the quick pushback
At a CNN and Jubilee town hall this week, the moderator asked plainly whether Talarico supported abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He answered, “No, and I never have.” That line was recorded and is on the public transcript. Republican operatives and the state’s GOP immediately paired that denial with past clips where Talarico used much stronger language about ICE. The contrast was highlighted by national Republican accounts and quickly became campaign ammo.
What Talarico actually said earlier
Earlier this year, in campaign events and social posts, Talarico called ICE a “secret police force” and said, “It is time to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually is going to focus on public safety.” Those words are also on the public record. So the headline here is not a he-said-she-said — it’s a mismatch between a fresh denial and documented earlier rhetoric. Voters should be allowed to compare both statements and decide which one sounds like the real position.
Why this matters in the Texas Senate race
This race is close, and border security is a live issue in Texas. Attorney General Ken Paxton and Republican strategists are already using Talarico’s older comments to paint him as soft on illegal immigration and out of step with mainstream Texans. Talarico’s attempt to recast himself as a “border-security Democrat” looks convenient when stacked against his own past language. In a state where voters care about secure borders and public safety, credibility is a campaign currency you can’t print overnight.
Bottom line: voters should expect clarity. If Talarico means he supports reforming ICE rather than wholesale abolition, he should say so and explain when and why his language changed. Otherwise, his opponents will keep running the clips — and in a tight contest, unanswered questions become the story. Texas deserves a straight answer on ICE, border security, and who speaks for everyday Texans.
