Video from a statement by Markwayne Mullin
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".
“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.”