U.S. ICE says no mass enforcement at midterm polling sites

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not conduct a large‑scale enforcement operation at voting locations during the upcoming midterm elections. The statement was made in response to a letter from a group of Senate Democrats, led by Senator Edward Markey, asking whether armed federal agents would be deployed at polling places.

A DHS official said ICE conducts intelligence‑driven, targeted enforcement and would only act if a specific public‑safety threat endangered a polling site. The letter was sent to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democrats have expressed concern that President Donald Trump is seeking to influence election administration, an issue that is also the focus of lawsuits filed by voting‑rights groups.