Schumer, Jeffries and party groups say "Federal law explicitly forbids voter intimidation and stationing armed federal agents at polling places"

Chuck SchumerSenate Democratic Leader, in a joint statement with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the DSCC, DCCC and Democratic Governors Association chairs

Condemned

In a joint statement after filing suit, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the chairs of the DSCC, DCCC and Democratic Governors Association said they are taking legal action to block what they called Donald Trump's threats to deploy federal agents, including ICE and FBI agents, to polling places, and said "Federal law explicitly forbids voter intimidation and stationing armed federal agents at polling places".

“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.”

Official statement

Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Leaders Schumer and Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, and DGA File New Lawsuit to Block Trump and Republicans' Threats to Intimidate Voters at Polling PlacesJoint statement posted Sept. 24, 2026 after the Sept. 23 filing

Original text

Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Complaint, DSCC v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, No. 1:26-cv-03330 (D.D.C. filed Sept. 23, 2026), ECF 1 · United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaECF 1, introduction, Counts I and II and prayer for relief

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A voter uses a blue voting booth at the Denver Central Library.
Credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images via NPR

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.

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Source and context

Official statement

Leaders Schumer and Jeffries, DSCC, DCCC, and DGA File New Lawsuit to Block Trump and Republicans' Threats to Intimidate Voters at Polling Places (opens in a new tab)Joint statement posted Sept. 24, 2026 after the Sept. 23 filing

About this source

DSCC's posting of a joint statement from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene and Democratic Governors Association Chair Andy Beshear after the suit was filed.

Original text

Complaint, DSCC v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, No. 1:26-cv-03330 (D.D.C. filed Sept. 23, 2026), ECF 1 (opens in a new tab) · United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaECF 1, introduction, Counts I and II and prayer for relief

About this source

The plaintiffs' complaint. It names ICE, acting ICE director David Venturella, DHS, Secretary Mullin, the FBI and FBI Director Patel, and asserts claims under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Voting Rights Act. The complaint states the plaintiffs' allegations, not findings.

Before the quotation

Schumer, Jeffries, the DSCC, the DCCC and the Democratic Governors Association filed suit in federal court in Washington on September 23.

After the quotation

The complaint names ICE, DHS, Secretary Mullin, acting ICE director David Venturella, the FBI and FBI Director Kash Patel.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

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. The statement announced legal action to block threatened deployments and said federal law forbids stationing armed federal agents at polling places, which expressly rejects the practice. It set no condition, so mixed or conditional does not fit.

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Schumer, Jeffries and party groups say "Federal law explicitly forbids voter intimidation and stationing armed federal agents at polling places"
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The Dispute Index. "Schumer, Jeffries and party groups say "Federal law explicitly forbids voter intimidation and stationing armed federal agents at polling places"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2697-in-a-joint-statement-after-filing-suit-senate