Colorado's Griswold says "Immigration officials must not be used to intimidate voters"
Jena GriswoldColorado Secretary of State
In a news release announcing a letter from nine secretaries of state, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said, "Immigration officials must not be used to intimidate voters", and asked nominee Markwayne Mullin to "confirm in writing that there will not be an ICE presence near voting locations in the 2026 election cycle".
“Trump and his administration have used ICE to terrorize and intimidate Americans. Immigration officials must not be used to intimidate voters … We are calling on the nominated Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin to confirm in writing that there will not be an ICE presence near voting locations in the 2026 election cycle.”
Official statement
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?
Since February 2026, federal officials have given differing answers about whether ICE and other armed federal agents could be at or near polling places during the November 3 election. On September 1, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE would be at a polling place only if there is a threat to it or agents are serving a warrant, and DHS told Politico that ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations but that arrests could result if an active public safety threat endangered one. On September 10, 18 and 23, 2026, LULAC and other groups, a coalition including the NAACP, and Democratic leaders and party committees sued separately in federal court in Washington. They allege that the administration's statements and actions violate 18 U.S.C. 592, Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, or both. As of September 25, the court dockets show no motion for a preliminary injunction and no answer or motion to dismiss from the federal defendants, and no court has ruled.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Release announcing a letter from nine secretaries of state to then-nominee Markwayne Mullin. It lists the signatories, quotes Griswold, and quotes remarks by DHS official Heather Honey on Feb. 25 and then-Secretary Kristi Noem on March 3.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Official statement
About this source
Release publishing the May 11 reply from ICE's Todd Lyons. It says the reply was dated more than a month after the April 8 response deadline the secretaries requested, quotes Griswold's reaction, and links both letters.
Before the quotation
Eight other secretaries of state signed the letter to then-nominee Markwayne Mullin. The release said it followed comments by former Secretary Kristi Noem and DHS staff.
After the quotation
On May 27, Griswold said she agreed there is no reason for ICE personnel to be deployed to polling places but remained concerned that agency leadership cannot provide an unequivocal answer.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The fixed reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE at or near polling places. Griswold said immigration officials must not be used to intimidate voters and asked for written confirmation of no ICE presence near voting locations, which expressly rejects the practice. She set no condition, so mixed or conditional does not fit.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Markwayne Mullin
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The Dispute Index. "Colorado's Griswold says "Immigration officials must not be used to intimidate voters"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2687-in-a-news-release-announcing-a-letter-from