Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) on Sunday made a firm demand that federal immigration agents be kept away from polling sites as the November midterm elections approach. In a post on the social platform X, Baldwin wrote, “No ICE at our polling places,” directly referencing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Her statement comes amid escalating scrutiny of ICE tactics and deployments, with Democratic lawmakers and residents in cities like Los Angeles and Minneapolis pushing back against the agency’s operations. The controversy intensified after two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in separate incidents in Minneapolis in January. In response, White House border czar Tom Homan withdrew ICE officers from Minnesota the following month.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has signaled that ICE could be present at polling locations under certain conditions. In a June interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” host Kasie Hunt pressed Mullin on whether he would rule out sending ICE agents to the polls. Mullin declined to do so, stating, “No, what I said is that we would only be there if a threat arises.” When Hunt followed up, “So, you’re not ruling it out?” Mullin responded, “No, keep in mind, why would ICE be there? Because only people that should be voting there is American citizens. There shouldn’t be any immigration enforcement.”
Mullin later clarified that if a bomb threat or other emergency occurred, ICE officers could be deployed because they are “more than just immigration customs enforcement.” That stance has alarmed voting rights advocates who fear that the mere presence of immigration agents could intimidate voters, particularly in communities with large immigrant populations.
The debate over ICE at polling places is part of a broader national conversation about immigration enforcement and its intersection with civic participation. As Europe’s immigration pivot aligns with Trump policies, similar tensions are playing out in the U.S. over how strict enforcement should be. Some advocates argue that an immigration reset is needed to address systemic issues, while others focus on immediate threats to voter access.
In April, the Wisconsin Examiner investigated online rumors that ICE officers were patrolling near polling places in Milwaukee and Madison. The outlet found the rumors appeared to be unfounded. An ICE spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics, stating that “due to our operational tempo and the increased interest in our agency, we are not able to research and respond to rumors or specifics of routine daily operations for ICE.”
Baldwin’s call echoes concerns from civil rights groups that have long argued that immigration enforcement at polling sites could suppress turnout among eligible voters, including naturalized citizens and Latino communities. The issue has also become a flashpoint in the broader debate over election integrity and immigration policy.
As the midterms draw closer, the question of whether ICE will show up at the polls remains unresolved. Mullin’s refusal to rule it out has left many Democrats, including Baldwin, on high alert. For now, Baldwin’s message is clear: keep immigration enforcement out of the voting booth.
