Listen to the article
Immigration Agents Won’t Monitor Polls in November, DHS Official Tells State Election Chiefs
A Department of Homeland Security official assured state election administrators Wednesday that immigration agents will not be stationed at polling locations during November’s midterm elections, addressing one of Democrats’ major concerns about potential Trump administration interference in the electoral process.
During a multi-agency call with secretaries of state, Heather Honey, deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, explicitly stated that “any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true,” according to Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat.
The statement was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, while Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, also acknowledged on social media that the assurance came from DHS. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.
What would typically be a routine coordination call between federal agencies and state election officials has taken on heightened significance this year amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic state officials. The FBI, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Postal Service and other federal agencies participated in the discussion about midterm election preparations.
Honey’s presence on the call itself raised eyebrows among some participants. She has previously supported false claims that President Trump did not lose the 2020 election, aligning her with election conspiracy theorists who have questioned legitimate election results.
Several recent actions by the Trump administration have intensified concerns among Democratic secretaries of state. The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits seeking detailed voter data without clear explanations for why it needs such information. President Trump continues to falsely assert that widespread fraud affected the 2020 election and has urged his administration to investigate these debunked claims.
Earlier this month, the FBI raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia—a Democratic stronghold that includes Atlanta—seizing ballots and other voting records from 2020. The action was reportedly based on long-debunked election conspiracy theories.
Democratic officials and public interest lawyers nationwide have been developing strategies to respond to potential interference in the midterm voting and ballot counting process. The U.S. Constitution grants states, not the federal government, the authority to conduct elections, with most states vesting that power in the elected secretary of state.
During Wednesday’s call, Democratic secretaries pressed Honey on several issues, including Trump administration cuts to election security funding, its campaign to address noncitizen voting (which is already illegal and occurs rarely), and concerns about federal law enforcement officers appearing at polling places.
The White House has previously dismissed such fears, pointing to last year’s elections, when Democrats performed well with no reported disruptions. During a recent congressional hearing, the heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection both confirmed they are not involved in any efforts to guard voting precincts.
Democrats remain wary, however, citing President Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 defeat, his pardons of individuals who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and his appointment of officials who assisted his efforts to challenge the previous election results.
The midterm elections will serve as a crucial test of the electoral system amid heightened partisan tensions and continued disputes over election integrity and security.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
Protecting the sanctity of the ballot box is crucial. While this DHS pledge is welcome, I hope election officials at all levels remain proactive in addressing potential threats to voter access and security.
Agreed. Robust partnerships between federal, state and local authorities are essential to secure our elections.
Ensuring that all eligible voters can participate freely and without fear is fundamental to a fair democratic system. This DHS assurance is an important step, but continued vigilance will be needed.
It’s good to hear that DHS is taking steps to address concerns around potential voter intimidation. Safeguarding the integrity of elections should be a top priority for all government agencies.
Absolutely. Transparency and clear communication from election authorities help build confidence in the process.
A nonpartisan, secure electoral process is the bedrock of American democracy. This DHS commitment, if followed through, could help ease concerns about voter intimidation. But the proof will be in the execution.
This is a promising development, though we’ll need to see concrete actions to follow through on the DHS promise. Maintaining public trust in the electoral process is critical for a healthy democracy.
Agreed. Voters should feel safe and secure when exercising their right to vote. Proactive communication from election officials is key.