DHS Assures No ICE Presence at 2026 Midterm Polling Places

Trump appointee tells state election officials federal immigration agents won't target polling sites

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A Trump-appointed Department of Homeland Security official told state election officials that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not be deployed to polling places during the 2026 midterm elections, despite concerns from some officials that ICE could be used to intimidate voters. The comments came during a call organized between secretaries of state and federal agencies, where the DHS official also discussed a controversial voter data-sharing system known as SAVE.

Why it matters

The assurance from DHS comes after previous incidents where increased ICE activity near polling places raised concerns about voter intimidation. The comments also highlight ongoing tensions between federal and state officials over election administration, with some Democratic officials expressing skepticism about the Trump administration's motives.

The details

DHS official Heather Honey told state election officials on a call that ICE will not target polling places during the 2026 midterms. However, one official on the call said, "I'll believe it when I see it." Honey also discussed the SAVE system, which is used to identify non-citizens on voter rolls, though it is known to have high rates of false positives. Democratic officials expressed frustration with Honey's handling of questions about SAVE and her "political statements" urging states to use the system.

  • The call between federal and state election officials took place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Heather Honey

A Department of Homeland Security official appointed by former President Trump.

Shenna Bellows

The Secretary of State for Maine, who expressed concerns about federal officials' statements during the call.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal immigration enforcement agency that some officials feared could be used to intimidate voters at polling places.

SAVE

A system used to identify non-citizens on voter rolls, which is known to have high rates of false positives.

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What they’re saying

“I'll believe it when I see it,”

— One source on the call (CNN)

“What wasn't reassuring was political statements by political appointees from the Trump administration … urging the states to particulate in the faulty SAVE system,”

— Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State (CNN)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This call highlights the ongoing tensions between federal and state officials over election administration, with some Democratic officials expressing skepticism about the Trump administration's motives and the use of systems like SAVE that are known to have high rates of false positives. The assurance that ICE will not target polling places is an important step, but some officials remain wary of promises from political appointees.