NAACP General Counsel Clarke rejects "the unlawful deployment of ICE or any other federal agent" at polling sites
NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke, speaking for a lead plaintiff
“We reject this administration’s attempt to desecrate our polling sites by converting them into militarized zones through the unlawful deployment of ICE or any other federal agent … The Voting Rights Act prohibits intimidation tactics that stand to deny and deter voters from exercising their voice and their rights.”
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Announcement by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, of the suit by nine organizations. It lists the plaintiffs and their counsel and quotes lawyers and plaintiff leaders, including NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke.
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About this source
The plaintiffs' complaint. It alleges that statements and actions by federal officials about armed agents near polling places violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, and cites statements by Trump, Mullin, Homan, Blanche, Patel and others. The complaint states the plaintiffs' allegations, not findings.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Nine organizations including the NAACP sued in federal court in Washington under Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act.
After the quotation
The announcement, issued by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, also quoted lawyers for the plaintiffs and the leaders of other plaintiff organizations.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: Federal officials' statements and actions about deploying ICE and other armed federal agents near polling places intimidate voters and violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act.
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. Clarke described the deployment of ICE or other federal agents to polling sites as unlawful and said the NAACP rejects it, which expressly condemns the practice. She set no condition, so mixed or conditional does not fit.
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- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“We are taking strong, joint legal action to block Donald Trump’s threats to deploy federal agents, including ICE and FBI agents, to polling places this November. … Federal law explicitly forbids voter intimidation and stationing armed federal agents at polling places.”Read statement
“I have not seen any operational plans or any discussions on any immigration enforcement operation at polling places. This is another fear tactic. This is another attack on ICE and this administration. … I want to put that to bed. There is no plan to sweep polling places looking for illegal aliens.”Read statement
League of United Latin American Citizens
“The question before the court is not about immigration. It is whether the federal government may post armed officers between a citizen and the voting booth. Congress answered that question in 1865, and the answer was no. Our vote is our voice, and LULAC will not stand by while any administration, of any party, tests whether that voice can be quieted.”Read statement