The U.S. Department of Homeland Security clarified on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, that it was not planning immigration operations targeting polling locations during this year's midterm elections, after deputy assistant secretary for election integrity Heather Honey told state officials that any suggestion of ICE agents being present at polling sites was simply not true. The department joined the federal Election Assistance Commission and other agencies for a virtual briefing with state election officials, during which Honey made her position clear. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes relayed Honey's statement, while Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows emphasized that deploying ICE to polling locations would be unconstitutional. The comments came in response to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber's inquiry about whether states would be alerted to potential immigration operations at polling sites. A Homeland Security official did note, however, that ICE might need to appear at a polling location if an active public safety threat endangered that venue, though any arrest would have to result from targeted enforcement action. The U.S. will hold its midterm elections for gubernatorial, congressional and other offices on November 3, with primary races beginning next month to determine party candidates. The election occurs as President Donald Trump pursues an aggressive immigration campaign that has drawn criticism from immigrant activists and Democrats, resulting in crackdowns led by masked federal immigration agents.
🏷️ Themes
Election Integrity, Immigration Policy, Civil Rights
Electoral integrity refers to the fairness of the entire voting process and how well the process protects against election subversion, voter suppression, and other threats to free and fair elections. The consequences of unfree or unfair elections can include doubts in the legitimacy of the outcome, ...
An American national security policy, homeland security is "the national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards where American interests, aspirations, and ways of life can thrive" to the "national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within...
Place where voters cast their ballots in elections
A polling place is where voters cast their ballots in elections. The phrase polling station is also used in American English, British English and Canadian English although a polling place is the building and polling station is the specific room (or part of a room) where voters cast their votes. A po...
Apart from general elections and by-elections, a midterm election refers to a type of election where the people can elect their representatives and other subnational officeholders (e.g. governor, members of local council) in the middle of the term of the executive. This is usually used to describe e...
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its stated mission is to conduct criminal investigations, enforce immigration laws, preserve national security, and protect public safety. ICE was ...
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try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Nasdaq ends more than 1% higher as Nvidia rises pre-earnings, tech extends rebound Nvidia’s results beat estimates, but Wall Street wants more cash return Gold prices head for fifth day of gains in six; JPMorgan sees more upside Nvidia set to report strong results and guidance, analysts say (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Homeland Security official rejects suggestion ICE agents will be at polling stations By Reuters Politics Published 02/25/2026, 08:05 PM Updated 02/25/2026, 08:24 PM Homeland Security official rejects suggestion ICE agents will be at polling stations 0 By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, Feb 25 - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday it was not planning immigration operations targeting polling locations during this year’s midterm election, after an official made similar comments to state election officials earlier in the day. The department, which has virtual oversight for immigration, joined the federal Election Assistance Commission and other agencies for a virtual briefing on Wednesday with state election officials. During that call, Heather Honey, a deputy assistant secretary for election integrity at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, told state officials, "Any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true," according to Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said during a briefing it would be unconstitutional for the Trump administration to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the polls. The comment was in response to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s question about whether or not states would be alerted to immigration operations at polling sites, her office said. A Homeland Security official told Reuters it is possible that ICE would have to appear at a polling location "if an active public safety threat endangered" that location. The official said an arrest would have...
