Federal distrust prompts some Democratic states to protect polling places, election records
Source: AP
Updated 4:51 PM EDT, March 11, 2026
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Democratic-led states alarmed by the prospect of federal immigration officers patrolling the polls during this years midterm elections are taking steps to counter what they see as a potential tactic to intimidate voters.
New Mexico this week became the first state to bar armed agents from polling locations in response to President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, a step being considered in at least a half dozen other Democratic-led states.
The moves highlight a deep distrust toward the Trump administration from blue states, which have been the target of his aggressive immigration tactics while threatened with military deployments and deep cuts in federal funding. Their concerns were heightened after the president suggested he wants to nationalize U.S. elections, even though the Constitution says its the states that run elections.
The Trump administration said it has no plans to deploy immigration agents to polling locations. Last month, the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol told a congressional committee No, sir when asked if they had any plans to guard polling places. The Department of Homeland Securitys deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, Heather Honey, recently told secretaries of state it is simply not true that immigration agents will be at the polls this year.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/immigration-officers-voting-midterms-democrats-9782b37033fec6a433b6d501d2989871
AverageOldGuy
(3,732 posts)Translation: ICE and CBP will surround polls in even the smallest Democratic strongholds and limit access to white males.
bluestarone
(22,038 posts)Fully agree!! Edit to add. If they do disrupt elections, maybe it's their reason for MARTIAL law? That's part of it. America has NEVER seen this.
Clouds Passing
(7,862 posts)lastlib
(28,096 posts)This is important!!
MadameButterfly
(3,987 posts)Of course they're going to do it. By the time anyone takes action, election day is over. We can't declare the election invalid because we'll sound like Republicans and it would be treated as equivalent to their claims of stolen elections. Besides, SCOTUS would find in their favor.
This is why they want to get rid of mail in voting and early voting. It's harder to interrupt 2-3 weeks of voting without getting caught or stopped.
Vote as early as you can. Make them show their cards early, or miss the opportunity to stop you altogether.