Blanche asks, "Why is there objection to sending ICE officers to polling places?"
Todd BlancheDeputy Attorney General
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche asked why there is objection to sending ICE officers to polling places and said, "Illegals can't vote. It doesn't make any sense".
“Why is there objection to sending ICE officers to polling places? Illegals can't vote. It doesn't make any sense.”
Original video
Reporting
Other statements by Todd Blanche in this case
Every statement by Todd Blanche
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
Original video
About this source
Forbes Breaking News video of an on-stage conversation at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The quoted wording is our transcription of the video audio. The Hill's written version of the question differs slightly.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
The Hill's report of Blanche's March 26 remarks at CPAC. It says DHS officials had given conflicting answers over whether ICE officers might be stationed at polling places. Its written version of the question differs slightly from the words heard in the video.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Blanche was speaking in an on-stage conversation at CPAC, and the discussion had turned to election integrity.
After the quotation
The Hill reported the remark on March 27, noting that DHS officials had given conflicting answers over whether ICE officers might be stationed at polling places.
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. Blanche's rhetorical question argued that objections to sending ICE officers to polling places have no basis, which defends the idea. He described no conditions, so mixed or conditional does not fit.
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The Dispute Index. "Blanche asks, "Why is there objection to sending ICE officers to polling places?"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2688-at-the-conservative-political-action-conference-in-texas