Sen. Baldwin urges ban on ICE at polling places

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D‑Wis.) on Sunday urged that no Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers be stationed at polling places for the November elections. She posted the message on X, saying, “No ICE at our polling places,” after a series of lawsuits and protests over federal presence at voting sites.

The issue matters because ICE officers have been deployed in several states during past elections, sparking accusations that they intimidate voters, especially people of color and immigrants. Courts have ruled that federal agents can’t be used to influence turnout, and the Department of Homeland Security has said it will limit ICE presence to “voter‑rights enforcement” only. Yet some states have pushed for more federal involvement, citing election security concerns.

Baldwin’s call follows a wave of Republican‑led state laws that allow or even require federal agents at polling places. In 2023, several Southern states passed bills permitting ICE to monitor elections, and a federal court in Texas ordered the DHS to send ICE officers to the 2024 primary. The DHS has said it will comply with court orders but has also warned that any deployment must be “proportionate and non‑intimidating.” Critics argue that even a small presence can deter voters, especially in communities that fear immigration enforcement.

What comes next is a mix of legal and legislative action. Baldwin has said she will introduce a bipartisan bill to ban federal agents from polling sites, and she is meeting with House and Senate colleagues to build support. The DHS is expected to issue a new policy brief, while Republican leaders may push for a “polling‑place security” amendment that expands federal authority. The debate will shape voter turnout in key swing states, as both sides argue over the balance between election integrity and the right to vote.