Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would only be deployed to polling stations during the midterms if “a threat” arises.
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mr. Mullin was asked if he’d dispatch ICE agents to the polls in November.
“Are you willing to rule out sending ICE agents,” asked host Kasie Hunt, who noted that Mr. Mullin didn’t foreclose on the idea at a House hearing later this month.
“No, what I said was that we would only be there if a threat has arised,” Mr. Mullin responded.
“So, you’re not ruling it out,” Ms. Hunt followed up.
“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,” Mr. Mullin fired back.
Mr. Mullin later expanded on his answer, saying that if a threat did arise at a polling station, ICE agents are trained to be special response teams that can be mobilized quickly. He said the agents handle additional responsibilities besides immigration and customs enforcement.
“The only reason why we would be there is not for voter identification; it’d be because law enforcement is needed and the local law enforcement would be part of that conversation, so we wouldn’t show up on our own,” he added.
The Department of Homeland Security has been fiercely criticized for its aggressive approach to immigration enforcement. That criticism ramped up after immigration authorities killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon predicted that ICE agents would “surround the polls” during the November midterm elections.
“You’re damn right we’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November,” Mr. Bannon said on his “War Room” podcast.
“We’re not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again. And you can whine and cry and throw your toys out of the pram all you want, but we will never again allow an election to be stolen,” he continued.
