Sen. Padilla on federal troops and ICE at polling sites, as the Protect Our Polls Act is introduced
Alex PadillaU.S. senator from California and Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), speaking as he and seven other Democratic senators introduced the Protect Our Polls Act, said there is no place at polling sites for federal troops or federal law enforcement, including ICE, and that deploying them to intimidate eligible voters is already against the law. He said that when Secretary Mullin and Secretary Hegseth are asked about sending federal troops to election sites, they leave the door open, and that they are laying the groundwork to try to justify the presence of federal agents at polling places around the country.
“There is no place at our polling sites for federal troops or federal law enforcement, including ICE. Their deployment to intimidate eligible voters is already against the law. They’re laying the groundwork to try to justify the presence of federal agents at polling places around the country.”
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
Sen. Alex Padilla's press release announcing the Protect Our Polls Act, which eight Democratic senators introduced. It summarizes the bill, quotes the co-sponsors and includes a transcript of Padilla's remarks.
Before the quotation
Padilla's office said the Protect Our Polls Act would strengthen existing federal law restricting the deployment of military forces and armed federal agents to polling places. It would require Congress to pass a joint resolution of approval before the president could send troops or federal law enforcement to election sites under any exception to the ban.
After the quotation
In the same remarks, Padilla cited Steve Bannon's public remark about ICE surrounding the polls in November, said it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and urged Congress to pass the bill.
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. Padilla said federal troops and federal law enforcement, including ICE, have no place at polling sites, that deploying them to intimidate eligible voters is already against the law, and that officials are laying the groundwork to justify federal agents at polling places. That expressly rejects the stated or threatened use, so we labeled it Condemned.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump, Markwayne Mullin
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The Dispute Index. "Sen. Padilla on federal troops and ICE at polling sites, as the Protect Our Polls Act is introduced". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3333-sen-alex-padilla-d-calif-speaking-as-he