WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NAACP and other civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to prevent the Trump administration from deploying federal law enforcement officers in ways they say could intimidate voters during November’s midterm elections.
The lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FBI Director Kash Patel and other administration officials. Plaintiffs argue that public statements about possible federal activity around polling places, combined with expanded voter-roll scrutiny and immigration enforcement, violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voter intimidation.
Federal law generally bars armed federal officers and members of the armed forces from being stationed where elections are held. So far, the administration has not deployed armed officers to polling locations, and DHS has said ICE is not planning operations targeting polling places.
Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels rejected the lawsuit’s premise, saying DOJ has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations and calling suggestions otherwise “fearmongering.” Mullin has said ICE could respond to a public-safety threat or serve a warrant at a polling site.
The case is the second lawsuit this month seeking to restrict federal law enforcement activity around polling locations.
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