A bill introduced by California lawmakers this week would ban federal immigration agents from being stationed outside polling places, amid concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials could interfere with voting in the November midterm elections.
The legislation was introduced Thursday by state Sen. Tom Umberg and co-authored by state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes. Umberg said the move was aimed at protecting voters from “relentless intimidation” near polling stations.
“A person shall not perform any act for the enforcement of or the enforcement of federal immigration laws within 200 feet of any polling place, county election office, or place where ballots are counted, canvassed, audited, verified, or recounted,” the bill reads.
The legislation comes after Donald Trump said earlier this month that Republicans should “nationalize” and “take over” voting in at least 15 unspecified seats, repeating his false claims that US elections suffer from fraud.
“This action has nothing to do with protecting fake or illegal votes,” Umberg said in a post on X. “It’s about protecting legitimate voters from the brutal intimidation used by authoritarian regimes around the world to illegally influence elections.”
Umberg added: “In California, even if the federal government fails to do so, we respect the Constitution and our democracy, and we will protect the right of every eligible citizen to vote freely and safely.”
If passed by the Legislature and signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the bill would also extend protections to voters. It allows counties to open early voting centers, increase ballot drop boxes and extend polling hours if immigration enforcement disrupts voting. The bill also expands the buffer zones around polling sites from 100 feet to 200 feet where political activity is not allowed.
The president’s unsubstantiated claims of fraudulent voting were echoed earlier this month by former adviser and right-wing commentator Steve Bannon.
“We’re going to wrap up ICE with the election coming up in November,” Bannon said on his War Room podcast.
Asked about Bannon’s comments, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said: “I can’t guarantee that an ICE agent won’t be around a polling place in November … but what I can tell you is that I haven’t heard the president discuss any formal plans to keep ICE outside of polling places.”
