California bill would ban ICE agents from being near polling sites | California
A bill introduced by California lawmakers this week would ban federal immigration officers from being stationed outside polling places in response to concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could interfere with voting during the November midterm elections.
The legislation was introduced Thursday by state Sen. Tom Umberg and was co-authored by state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes. Umberg said the measure is intended to protect voters from “brutal intimidation” near polling places.
“A person may not take any action for the purpose of, or promoting the enforcement of, federal immigration laws while within 200 feet of any polling place, county election office, or place where ballots are counted, voted on, inspected, certified, or recounted.” invoice.
The legislation comes after Donald Trump said earlier this month that Republicans should do so. “Nationalize” and “take over” voting in at least 15 unspecified locations and repeating his baseless claims that U.S. elections are plagued with fraud.
“This measure has nothing to do with protecting fraudulent or illegal votes,” Umberg said. Publish on X. “This is about protecting legal voters from the kind of brutal intimidation that authoritarian regimes around the world use to illegally influence elections.”
Umberg added: “In California, we respect the constitution and our democracy, even if the federal government does not, and we will protect the right of every eligible citizen to vote freely and safely.”
If approved by the legislature and signed by California governor Gavin Newsom, the bill would also expand protections for voters. This would allow counties to open polling stations earlier, increase ballot drop boxes and extend voting hours if immigration enforcement disrupts voting. The bill also calls for widening buffer zones around polling places where political activity is not allowed from 100 ft to 200 ft.
The president’s false claims of voter fraud were echoed by former adviser and right-wing commentator Steve Bannon earlier this month.
“You are so right, ICE will surround the polls in November,” Bannon said. in question on the War Room podcast.
When asked about Bannon’s comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: in question: “I cannot guarantee that an ICE agent will not be at polling places in November… but what I can tell you is that I have not heard the president discuss any official plans to put ICE outside polling places.”
