Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on stationing ICE agents near polling places
Mike JohnstonMayor of Denver; the city and county of Denver is a plaintiff in the lawsuit
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said that stationing ICE agents near polling places is only meant to scare people and suppress votes, and that the right to vote without fear of intimidation is fundamental to democracy. He also said, "We'll fight tooth and nail to prevent it."
“The right to vote, and to do so without fear of intimidation, is fundamental to our democracy and to being an American Stationing ICE agents near polling places is only meant to scare people and suppress votes. We’ll fight tooth and nail to prevent it.”
Official statement
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
Official statement
About this source
Common Cause news release dated September 10, 2026, announcing the federal lawsuit filed by LULAC, Common Cause, UnidosUS and the city and county of Denver over armed ICE officers at polling places. It quotes leaders of the plaintiff organizations and Denver officials.
Before the quotation
The city and county of Denver joined LULAC, Common Cause and UnidosUS as a plaintiff in the suit filed on September 10, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to the release.
After the quotation
The release also quotes Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López, who said Denver will protect its elections from any attempts at federal intimidation and intrusion.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case records responses to the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places. Johnston said stationing ICE agents near polling places is only meant to scare people and suppress votes, and said, "We'll fight tooth and nail to prevent it." That expressly criticizes the practice, so we labeled it Condemned.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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The Dispute Index. "Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on stationing ICE agents near polling places". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2832-denver-mayor-mike-johnston-said-that-stationing-ice