$5+ Million Dark Money Group Attempts to Paper Over Haley Stevens’ Awful Record on ICE

MICHIGAN — A brand-new dark money shell organization, launched today and called the “Center for Democratic Priorities Inc.” is spending at least $5 million to bail out Haley Stevens over her record of voting to thank Trump's ICE agents, while raking in thousands from top ICE contractors:

“No amount of dark money will paper over the fact that Haley Stevens voted to thank Trump’s ICE agents and proudly took thousands in corporate PAC money from the company that makes ICE’s TASERs,” said Hannah Lindow, Mallory McMorrow’s campaign spokesperson.

The intervention comes after Stevens twice updated her own campaign website to publicly beg for outside groups to “immediately” run ads claiming she's fighting ICE. Days later, this new shell group obliged. Buying paperwork filed with the FCC confirms the ads will be about ICE.

In Congress, Haley Stevens voted to thank Trump's ICE agents. She took corporate PAC money from the company that makes ICE's TASERs. And after touring an ICE jail in Michigan where a man died in custody, Rep. Stevens said what “really stuck out” to her was the kindness of the female guards.

BACKGROUND

Stevens Voted To Express Gratitude For ICE Agents. On June 9, 2025, Representative Haley Stevens voted for the resolution that read, “Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns Mohammed Sabry Soliman and his antisemitic terrorist attack on peaceful demonstrators supporting the release of the hostages held by Hamas; (2) affirms that free and open communication between State and local law enforcement and their Federal counterparts remains the bedrock of public safety and is necessary in preventing terrorist attacks; and (3) expresses gratitude to law enforcement officers, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, for protecting the homeland.” The resolution passed 280-113. [H. Res. 488, engrossed 6/9/25; Vote #158, 6/9/25]

Stevens Did Not Cosponsor A Competing Democratic Resolution That Did Not Thank ICE Agents. Stevens did not co-sponsor the resolution that said the House, “(1) condemns the antisemetic attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado; (2) expresses solidarity with the survivors and their families; (3) recognizes the resilience of the Boulder community and commends their continued efforts to promote peace, safety, and inclusion; (4) calls for continued vigilance and Federal resources to counter rising antisemetism, investigate hate crimes, and support targeted communities; (5) stands with the Jewish community, for freedom of speech and religion, and against fear; and (6) affirms that hate and violence have no place in the United States, and that all people, regardless of faith or belief, deserve to live free from fear and persecution.” [H. Res. 476, introduced 6/11/25]

Stevens Said About The North Lake ICE Jail, “There Are Female Leadership Here. There Is Female Leadership. And There Are Women Who Are, Who Walked With Us Today And Explained The Intake Process, How Important It Is To Treat People With Humanity. And That, Obviously, Really Stuck Out To Me.” STEVENS: [11:00] "Something that jumped out at me is one of the women we spoke to who came to this facility by way of California. By way of another detention facility, did say that she felt better treated here than in Campbell County, which is in Kentucky, she claimed. And was expressing that she felt as though she had fair treatment. Of note there are female leadership here. There is female leadership. And there are women who are, who walked with us today and explained the intake process, how important it is to treat people with humanity. And that, obviously, really stuck out to me." [X, @BGOnTheScene, 2/17/26] (VIDEO)

A Reporter At Stevens’ Press Conference Said About Stevens Comments, “I Know That They Said That Treating Inmates With Respect Is Something That They Discussed With You. We've Heard From A Lot Of People With Loved Ones Here That That's Not The Case.” REPORTER: [12:50] "I want to talk about the leadership that you spoke to today. I know that they said that treating inmates with respect is something that they discussed with you. We've heard from a lot of people with loved ones here that that's not the case. Guards turning their badges around so they can’t identify them. Phone calls being cut when people discuss the conditions here.” [X, @BGOnTheScene, 2/17/26] (VIDEO)

In December 2025, Nenko Gantchev, An Inmate At The North Lake ICE Jail, Died. “A 56-year-old man has died in federal custody at the North Lake Processing Center in northern Michigan, according to two congressional sources in Michigan. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement officials notified the Senate Homeland Security Committee of the death this week, and the agency is investigating, the sources said. The circumstances of the death haven’t been released, and ICE did not respond to requests for information this week. The man’s name was Nenko Gantchev, a Bulgarian citizen arrested in Chicago, according to the information provided to the committee by ICE.” [Detroit News, 12/18/25]

Q4 2025: Haley Stevens For Senate Received $2,500 From Axon Enterprise. Stevens’ campaign for Senate received a $2,500 contribution from Axon Enterprise, Inc. PAC on November 10, 2025. [Federal Election Commission, filed 1/31/26]

Axon Enterprise Sold Law Enforcement Equipment Such As The TASER Weapon And Cameras. “Axon’s operations comprise two reportable segments: 1.Software and Sensors: We develop, manufacture and sell fully integrated hardware and cloud-based software solutions that enable law enforcement to capture, securely store, manage, share and analyze video and other digital evidence. Our software offerings also support productivity and real-time operations. The Software and Sensors segment includes the sale of sensors, including body cameras, in-car cameras, other hardware sensors, warranties on sensors, and other products, as well as recurring cloud-hosted software revenue, related non-recurring professional services revenue, and revenue from certain software, including on-premise licenses. 2.TASER: Axon is the market leader in the development, manufacture and sale of conducted energy devices (‘CEDs’), which we sell under our brand name, TASER. The TASER segment includes the manufacture and sale of CEDs, batteries, accessories and extended warranties, digital subscription training content, virtual reality (‘VR’) training content, TASER Evidence.com license revenue, and other professional services tied to TASER and VR deployments.” [Securities and Exchange Commission, AXON, Form 10-K, 2024]

In Federal Fiscal Year 2025, Axon Had $13 Million In Immigrations And Customs Enforcement Contracts. [USA Spending, accessed 2/10/26]

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