Mullin says ICE would be at polling places only if there is "a threat to that polling place" or a warrant to serve
Markwayne MullinSecretary of Homeland Security
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin answers a question about ICE and polling places at a Sept. 1, 2026 news conference in New York City.
Excerpt from about 29:12 to 30:33 of the department's video of the news conference. The C-SPAN recording cited for this source shows the same exchange. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Public domain (U.S. government work) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: News conference of Sept. 1, 2026; reporter's question and Mullin's answer on polling places, about 20:28 to 21:50)
Asked at a New York news conference about his Senate confirmation testimony, Mullin said ICE is not there to patrol polling places and would be at one only if there is a threat to it or agents are serving a warrant on someone they have been actively tracking. He said, "If we're serving a warrant, we will be where we need to be".
Responding to
ICE officers would be at polling places only if there is a threat to the polling place or they are serving a warrant on someone ICE has been actively tracking down.
“I was being very, very clear when I said ICE isn't there to patrol the polling places. We're there to enforce specific threats. The only reason why we would be at polling places if there is a threat to that polling place or we're serving a warrant on someone that we have been actively tracking down. … If we're serving a warrant, we will be where we need to be.”
Original video
Reporting
Other statements by Markwayne Mullin in this case
Every statement by Markwayne Mullin
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
C-SPAN's recording of Secretary Mullin's news conference at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services New York field office about ICE enforcement operations in New York. The polling-place answer responds to a reporter's question that referred to his Senate confirmation testimony. The quoted wording is our transcription of the video audio.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Reporting
About this source
Politico's same-day report on Mullin's New York remarks. It quotes a DHS statement given when Politico asked for more clarity, and says DHS also pointed to Mullin's comments at his March confirmation hearing.
Before the quotation
A reporter at a news conference on immigration enforcement operations in New York asked about Mullin's Senate confirmation testimony that ICE could be sent to polling places only in the event of a specific threat.
After the quotation
DHS gave Politico a statement the same day saying ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations.
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. Mullin said ICE would not patrol polling places but would be at one for a threat or to serve a warrant, so his position depends on express conditions. Defends or excuses loses because he did not argue for agents at polling places generally, and denies loses because he did not rule out a presence.
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The Dispute Index. "Mullin says ICE would be at polling places only if there is "a threat to that polling place" or a warrant to serve". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2692-asked-at-a-new-york-news-conference-about