DHS official promises election officials that ICE will not be at polling places

Politico

by By Andrew Howard and Erin Doherty

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A top Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official assured election officials during a private call that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not be stationed at polling places in November. Heather Honey, DHS deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, dismissed concerns about ICE presence at polls as "disinformation," emphasizing that such deployment is not part of the administration's plans. However, Democrats remain skeptical, particularly given Honey's history as an election denier from the 2020 controversy. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, criticized the call for lacking substantive discussions beyond the assurance and questioned DHS's commitment to integrity. The call, organized by four federal departments—Election Assistance Commission, DHS, Justice Department, and FBI—was described as routine but felt more like "window dressing" by Fontes. Other participants noted conflicting messages from the Trump administration on election issues, with one person describing it as a "cover your butt kind of call." This reflects ongoing tensions between state and federal officials over election integrity. This situation highlights broader concerns among Democrats about potential federal interference in elections, especially amid President Trump's calls to "nationalize voting." fears persist that such actions could intimidate or discourage voters, particularly immigrants, from exercising their right to vote. The lack of clear communication and conflicting signals from the administration have left election officials uncertain and critical of DHS's assurances.

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Originally published on Politico on 2/26/2026