- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
DHS Official Promises No Immigration Agents at Polling Places for Midterms
Assurance comes amid concerns over potential federal interference in elections
Published on Feb. 26, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A Department of Homeland Security official has told state election administrators that immigration agents will not be stationed at polling places during the upcoming midterm elections in November. This pledge comes amid fears from Democrats about possible election interference from the Trump administration, which has made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Why it matters
The presence of federal immigration agents at polling places could intimidate and discourage voters, especially in immigrant communities, from exercising their right to vote. This assurance from DHS aims to allay those concerns and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The details
Heather Honey, the DHS deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, told secretaries of state that 'any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true.' This pledge was made during a call with state election officials, the FBI, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and Postal Service representatives to discuss coordination for the midterm elections.
- The call took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
- The midterm elections are scheduled for November 2026.
The players
Heather Honey
Deputy assistant secretary for election integrity at the Department of Homeland Security.
Adrian Fontes
Democratic secretary of state for Arizona.
Tobias Read
Secretary of state for Oregon.
Michael Adams
Republican secretary of state for Kentucky.
Donald Trump
Former president who has made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
What they’re saying
“Any suggestion that ICE will be present at any polling location is simply not true.”
— Heather Honey, Deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, Department of Homeland Security (gulfcoastnewsnow.com)
What’s next
The Department of Homeland Security will continue to coordinate with state and federal agencies to ensure the security and integrity of the midterm elections.
The takeaway
This assurance from the DHS official aims to alleviate concerns about potential federal interference in the electoral process, particularly the presence of immigration agents at polling places, which could discourage voter participation. However, the lingering distrust stemming from the 2020 election remains a challenge that election officials must navigate.
