Justice Department spokesperson says the DOJ "has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations"
United States Department of JusticeJustice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels, in a written statement
In a statement reported by The Guardian after a coalition of civil rights groups sued over threats to deploy federal law enforcement at voting sites, Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said, "The DOJ has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations". Pels added, "Any suggestion otherwise is fearmongering".
“The DOJ has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations. Any suggestion otherwise is fearmongering.”
Reporting
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
The Guardian's report on the September 18 lawsuit. It names the Justice Department spokesperson who gave the statement and reports that DHS denied ICE was planning operations targeting polling locations, that the FBI declined to comment and that ICE referred questions to DHS.
Reporting
About this source
Report on the September 18 lawsuit by a coalition of civil rights and labor groups. It carries the same Justice Department statement, given to States Newsroom, and a DHS statement that ICE was not planning operations targeting polling locations.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
A coalition of civil rights groups led by the NAACP had sued on September 18, alleging that threats to deploy law enforcement to polling sites violate the Voting Rights Act ban on voter intimidation.
After the quotation
The Guardian also reported that a DHS spokesperson denied that ICE was planning operations targeting polling locations, that the FBI declined to comment and that ICE referred questions to DHS.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places in the 2026 election. The Justice Department said it has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations, which denies that it has stated or threatened such a deployment. Challenges the characterization loses because the statement goes beyond disputing a label and denies the statement of intent itself.
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- Justice Department spokesperson says the DOJ "has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations"
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The Dispute Index. "Justice Department spokesperson says the DOJ "has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2754-in-a-statement-reported-by-the-guardian-after