ICE sued over agents at polls
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Denver and civil rights groups sued to block armed ICE agents at polling sites.
The case tests a Civil War-era law before November's midterms.
Background
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Washington, D.C., against the Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, ICE and Acting ICE Director David Venturella. The plaintiffs argue that stationing armed immigration enforcement agents at polling places would violate a Civil War-era law that prohibits federal officials from bringing "troops or armed men" to keep the peace where an election is being held. The administration has not explicitly outlined plans to send armed ICE officers to the polls, but top officials have repeatedly suggested federal agents could show up to respond to "threats" or make an immigration arrest.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2026Agents showed up to polling places in California and New York, according to the lawsuit.
- recentlyArmed ICE agents made an arrest in the parking lot outside a polling place in San Antonio, Texas, the lawsuit says.
- Sep 10, 2026Denver, Latino civil rights organizations and government watch groups filed a preemptive lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to block the Trump administration from deploying armed ICE agents to polling sites ahead of November's midterm elections.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- The plaintiffs argue that the presence of armed federal agents at polling locations or 24-hour drop boxes would deter, discourage and intimidate voters, and that it violates federal laws protecting free and fair elections.
- Official
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE could be at polling places if there is "a threat" to such sites or if agents are serving a warrant for someone they have "been actively tracking down," adding "if we're serving a warrant, we will be where we need to be."
Still unverified
The lawsuit does not cite specific cases where armed federal agents entered or visited polling centers, according to Colorado Politics. The administration has not explicitly outlined plans to send armed ICE officers to the polls.