Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says he has assurances that federal authorities are not targeting polling sites
Javier SalazarSheriff of Bexar County, Texas
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a statement that he had received assurances that federal authorities are not targeting polling sites, and that they should not. He also said sheriff's deputies are in charge of security at polling sites.
“I’ve gotten some assurances that federal authorities are not, in fact, targeting polling sites, as they should not”
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
San Antonio Express-News report, published May 20, 2026, on Sheriff Javier Salazar's statement after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrested a man outside an early voting site in San Antonio with an ICE agent present.
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About this source
KSAT report, published May 20, 2026, on a Texas Department of Public Safety traffic stop outside Las Palmas Branch Library, an early voting site in San Antonio, and the response by ICE officers. It quotes a statement Sheriff Javier Salazar sent that afternoon and a statement from Bexar County officials.
Before the quotation
On May 20, 2026, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrested a man in the parking lot of Las Palmas Branch Library, an early voting site in San Antonio for the runoff election. A DPS spokesperson said the man was wanted on an outstanding warrant, that troopers called in ICE for assistance, and that the stop had nothing to do with the election. At least one ICE agent was at the scene, according to a video posted to social media.
After the quotation
Bexar County officials said in a statement that the man was not a voter and that the incident did not affect access to the polling site or disrupt voting operations. The Express-News reported that Salazar also said voters in Bexar County should not be worried about encountering federal agents at the polls. In the same statement, KSAT reported, Salazar said his understanding was that the incident was incidental to a traffic stop made by a DPS trooper.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places. Salazar said he had received assurances that federal authorities are not targeting polling sites, and added that they should not. The Express-News reported that he said federal immigration agents are not patrolling polling sites in the county. He was relaying assurances rather than speaking for a federal agency, and he did not criticize any federal action. We labeled it Denied because he tells voters the targeting is not happening.
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The Dispute Index. "Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says he has assurances that federal authorities are not targeting polling sites". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3311-bexar-county-sheriff-javier-salazar-said-in-a