Trump has no 'formal plans' to deploy ICE at polling sites, White House says
Source: Reuters
February 5, 2026 4:47 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has not discussed "formal plans" to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling sites at November's midterm elections, the White House said on Thursday, while declining to rule out their presence near voting locations. Trump said on Monday that Republicans should "nationalize" and "take over" voting in at least 15 unspecified locations, repeating his false claims that U.S. elections are plagued by widespread fraud.
His remarks were echoed by Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser and influential right-wing commentator, who repeated false claims that people living in the U.S. illegally vote in large numbers and said on his War Room podcast on Tuesday, "You're damn right we're gonna have ICE surround the polls come November."
Asked about Bannon's comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "I can't guarantee that an ICE agent won't be around a polling location in November
but what I can tell you is I haven't heard the president discuss any formal plans to put ICE outside of polling locations."
Federal law prohibits the president from deploying military troops at any location holding a general or special election, and several states criminalize carrying firearms at or near polling places. Immigration enforcement, in particular, has caused both U.S. citizens and legal residents to stay home out of fear of detention or racial profiling. Democrats have raised concerns in recent months that Trump could deploy troops at polling locations to intimidate voters and interfere with the November elections that will determine control of Congress.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-has-no-formal-plans-deploy-ice-polling-sites-white-house-says-2026-02-05/
Meaning they WILL show up to intimidate and local police should arrest them for trespassing,
0rganism
(25,521 posts)"I haven't heard the president discuss any formal plans to put ICE outside of polling locations."
^^^^^^
Yeah sure, okay ma'am, so how about all those informal plans, eh? Incredibly clumsy attempt at sweeping this issue under the proverbial rug; 2/10. Everyone who cares has figured it out by now anyway, so you can stop pretending, Karoline.
BumRushDaShow
(167,075 posts)orangecrush
(29,297 posts)democrank
(12,377 posts)One good thing about President Donald J. Trump .he never, ever lies.
mwmisses4289
(3,530 posts)people who will fall for the bs and deride anyone who says he will do it anyway, then he does it anyway and the ones who fell for it are shocked.
wolfie001
(7,353 posts)Scrivener7
(58,856 posts)Only sloppy and informal ones.
liberalgunwilltravel
(1,123 posts)Trump plans to deploy ICE at all Blue-leaning polling stations.