Brace yourselves, folks—Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) just dropped a bombshell that’s shaking up the conservative corner of Capitol Hill.

After three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Nehls declared on Saturday that he won’t be running for reelection in 2026, choosing instead to step away at the end of the current session, Breitbart reported. 

His decision didn’t come out of the blue; it followed heartfelt talks with his family over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Family First: Nehls’ Personal Decision

Nehls made it a point to personally inform former President Donald Trump before going public, a nod to the strong alliance they’ve shared over the years.

In his written statement, Nehls reflected on a career spanning over 30 years in law enforcement and military service, plus six years in Congress, saying, “After more than 30 years in law enforcement serving and protecting my community ... I have made the decision, after conversations with my beautiful bride and my girls over the Thanksgiving holiday, to focus on my family and return home after this Congress.”

That’s a class act—putting family above the political grind, even if it means conservatives lose a fierce fighter in the House.

Championing Trump-Era Immigration Policies

Nehls’ time in Congress wasn’t just a placeholder; he carved out a reputation as a staunch defender of Trump-era policies, especially on immigration enforcement.

He led the charge with bills like the REMOVE Act in July 2025, aimed at speeding up deportation proceedings to within 15 days of an initial hearing, mirroring parallel efforts in the Senate by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

Then there’s the Accountability Through Deportation Act from May 2024, pushing for the removal of unauthorized migrants who violate immigration court conditions—tackling a backlog of over 6.2 million cases at the Department of Homeland Security by the end of fiscal year 2023.

Standing Up for Victims of Crime

Not stopping at policy, Nehls also fought for families impacted by crimes committed by unauthorized migrants through the Justice for Angel Families Act, introduced in 2022 and again in 2025 alongside Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS).

This legislation sought to expand the Crime Victims Fund and reinstate the Trump-era Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office, which was shuttered under the current administration.

It’s a bitter irony that those left grieving often face financial and emotional burdens with little government support, a gap Nehls worked tirelessly to close.

Battling Child Exploitation and Socialism

Beyond borders, Nehls took aim at Big Tech in September 2023, calling for a Federal Trade Commission probe into platforms like Instagram and OnlyFans for allegedly enabling child sexual abuse material, backed by data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Closer to home, on Nov. 21, 2025, he backed Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar’s House resolution condemning socialism, which passed with a resounding 285-98 vote—all Republicans on board while Democrats split their stance, prompting Nehls to quip, “Are you surprised?”

Hardly a shocker there; it’s just another day of progressive agendas getting a polite but firm reality check from the right side of the aisle.