Rep. Julie Johnson traded stocks from company that helps Trump’s deportation efforts despite anti-ICE comments

As Congress debates immigration enforcement, financial disclosures show Rep. Julie Johnson’s personal stock activity intersected with a company deeply involved in those policies. Data from Capitol Trades and federal filings reveal Johnson traded shares of Palantir Technologies, a contractor that has provided data analytics to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even as she publicly criticized the agency.

Johnson, a Democrat representing Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, bought Palantir stock in January and February 2025, shortly before and after President Trump began his second term. She sold the shares in April and June 2025, reporting gains of $1,001 to $15,000 per sale. Palantir’s contracts with ICE nearly doubled from $541 million in 2024 to $970 million in 2025, coinciding with a surge in deportation efforts and a significant increase in Palantir’s stock price.

Stock trading by members of Congress is legal, but critics highlight conflicts of interest, particularly when lawmakers oversee agencies or policies affecting the companies they trade. Johnson serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, including subcommittees on border security, enforcement, and technology areas closely tied to Palantir’s federal work.

Publicly, Johnson has been a vocal critic of ICE. She repeatedly pressed Department of Homeland Security officials for transparency and constitutionally grounded deportation practices and opposed funding for DHS, arguing the agency had “shown repeated disregard for the Constitution.”

In a statement, Johnson emphasized that her investments were managed by independent third parties and that she began divesting Palantir holdings shortly after joining Congress. She noted that while divestment was not legally required, she chose to sell her shares to maintain public trust.

Among Texas lawmakers, Johnson ranks second in total trading volume, with $4.24 million in transactions, according to Capitol Trades. Quiver Quantitative data show she is one of only six House Democrats to trade Palantir stock since 2021, and no other current Texas representative disclosed similar activity.

Johnson has advocated for stricter rules on congressional stock trading. In January 2026, she proposed an amendment requiring lawmakers to divest from all individual stocks while in office. Academic research highlights that even legally compliant trades can erode public confidence, as constituents may question whether policy decisions are influenced by financial considerations.

Recent legislative efforts to limit congressional stock ownership have drawn criticism for loopholes that allow continued holdings and sales within a 7-14 day notice window. Ethics experts warn that such measures fall short of preventing conflicts of interest.

Johnson’s trading history underscores the complex intersection of personal finance, public service, and policy oversight. As debates over immigration enforcement and congressional ethics intensify, her experience fuels calls for stronger safeguards to ensure lawmakers’ financial decisions do not conflict with the policies they shape.