DHS Secretary says ICE may be deployed to polling places

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has declined to rule out deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents near polling places during the 2026 midterm elections, framing the possibility as a response to potential security threats rather than routine immigration enforcement. In a televised interview on Sunday, June 14, Mullin defended the administration's ongoing efforts to verify voter citizenship, arguing that ensuring only U.S. citizens cast ballots is a fundamental constitutional duty.

When asked by CNN anchor Kasie Hunt if he would rule out sending ICE agents to polling locations, Mullin stated they would only be present if a specific threat arose. He explained that ICE personnel include special response teams trained for emergencies, such as a bomb threat, and that any deployment would be coordinated with local law enforcement and not for voter identification purposes. "The only people who should be voting there are American citizens," Mullin said. "There shouldn't be any immigration enforcement."

The secretary's comments align with a broader push by the administration to intensify election security measures. Mullin stated the Department of Homeland Security...