Trump Homeland Security Chief Says ICE Agents Could Be Sent to Polling Places
Markwayne Mullin says officers could be deployed ‘if there is a threat to that polling place or we’re serving a warrant’
TL;DR
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated ICE officers could be present at polling sites if there's a threat or to serve a warrant.
- Democrats and voting rights groups expressed concern that federal agents at polling locations could intimidate voters.
- The Department of Homeland Security stated ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations unless there's an active public safety threat.
- Federal law generally prohibits military personnel and "armed" agents from being at polling places during elections.
- Mullin previously threatened to withhold federal aid from states not complying with election directives, alleging widespread voter fraud, though experts question the evidence for these claims.
- The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff confirmed the US military has no plans to deploy troops to polling sites for the November midterm elections.