Civil Rights Groups Sue to Block ICE Agents at Polls

A coalition of civil rights groups and labor unions filed a lawsuit on Friday, September 18, 2026, against the Trump administration to prevent the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations during the November midterm elections. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is the second such legal challenge this month, following similar concerns raised by officials' statements. The lawsuit alleges that the administration's policy violates federal laws prohibiting armed men at election sites and constitutes voter intimidation under the Voting Rights Act. Under federal law, troops or armed personnel are only permitted at polling locations if necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States. The plaintiffs argue that the mere threat of ICE agents at polls deters voters, particularly Black, Latino, and Asian voters, naturalized citizens, and members of mixed-status families, from exercising their right to vote. The legal action comes after mixed messages from top administration officials.