Will ICE agents play a role in the 2026 US midterm elections? | Donald Trump News
ICE’s Role in Midterm Elections Draws Scrutiny Amid Concerns of Voter Intimidation
Since resuming his presidency for a second term, President Donald Trump has initiated a significant campaign aimed at identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants in the United States. Leading this effort is the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security.
Under the Trump administration, ICE has experienced considerable growth, increasing its workforce to approximately 22,000 officers and agents as of January—an increase of 120 percent. Recent budget increases have made ICE one of the most well-funded federal law enforcement agencies in the country. However, the agency, established in 2003, has faced mounting criticism for its aggressive enforcement tactics and rapid hiring processes.
Since Trump began his second term, ICE agents have been involved in at least 25 shooting incidents, resulting in six fatalities. Additionally, reports indicate that at least 60 individuals have died in ICE custody since January 2025. This track record has raised concerns among democracy and human rights advocates, particularly as the November 3 midterm elections approach.
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have expressed apprehension that the Trump administration may deploy ICE to intimidate voters. They argue that the presence of ICE agents could deter some individuals from voting. A national poll conducted in September by the University of California, San Diego, found that 40 percent of respondents believed ICE agents would be present near polling locations on election day.
Federal law prohibits armed federal agents from operating at polling stations, a restriction that dates back to 1865. The law specifically forbids anyone associated with the U.S. civil, military, or naval services from deploying armed personnel at election sites. While there is a provision for federal forces to maintain peace or counter threats, many states also have similar laws in place.
Despite these prohibitions, there have been instances of ICE activity near polling locations. During the primary elections for the midterms, reports emerged of ICE agents conducting routine operations near polling sites in San Antonio, Texas, and Ventura County, California. In both instances, local police intervened, asking the agents to leave.
In the months leading up to the midterm elections, the Trump administration has empowered ICE to investigate issues concerning non-citizen voting, which is illegal. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of ICE, was reportedly ordered to prioritize these inquiries. Since August, HSI agents have been deployed in at least nine states to assess voter eligibility, at times going door-to-door to inquire about residents’ citizenship status and their voting intentions.
A federal judge recently ordered the Department of Homeland Security to suspend these investigations, citing concerns about the potential for U.S. citizens to be wrongly targeted and intimidated. The judge highlighted a significant likelihood of errors in the federal identification of non-citizens.
President Trump has previously linked non-citizen voting to his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, despite expert opinions indicating that such occurrences are extremely rare.
In response to questions from the media about ICE’s potential role on election day, Trump has refrained from making specific commitments. In a May press conference, he stated, “I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.”
While Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that ICE would not conduct patrols at polling stations, he suggested that agents might still be present for other reasons, such as responding to threats or serving warrants. Attorney General Todd Blanche has questioned the backlash surrounding ICE’s potential involvement at polling locations.
Rights groups are alarmed by the Trump administration’s rhetoric, fearing that an ICE presence could suppress voter turnout. On October 20, Human Rights Watch called for the administration to prevent ICE from operating near polling locations, emphasizing the detrimental impact ICE’s actions have had on U.S. citizens caught in immigration enforcement. Similarly, Amnesty International has urged that eligible voters should be allowed to participate in elections without fear of intimidation or harm.
