Former Trump Adviser Pushes for National Emergency to Deploy ICE at Midterm Polling Sites

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon urged administration officials to issue a national-emergency proclamation that would permit federal immigration agents to be present inside voting booths for the upcoming midterm elections. He argued that an “up-armored ICE presence” is essential for election integrity and suggested that the move would deter illegal voting. Bannon framed the proposal as a response to what he described as opposition from certain senators and donors.

Newsweek

The call comes amid ongoing Republican efforts to tighten voting rules, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which proposes voter-ID requirements and limits on mail-in ballots. Critics contend that such measures could disenfranchise voters lacking identification, such as those who rely on passports. Legal scholars note that a national-emergency declaration would not automatically allow the president to override state-run election administration, which the Constitution primarily assigns to the states, though Congress retains authority over federal election regulations.

Newsweek

The White House did not immediately comment on Bannon’s suggestion. Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had never heard the president consider placing ICE agents at polls and described the idea as a “very silly hypothetical question.” President Donald Trump, when asked about election-related emergency powers, replied, “Stranger things have happened,” without confirming any plan. Election-law experts warned that any attempt to impose nationwide voting rules via an emergency order would likely face extensive court challenges.

Newsweek

• “You know why it's not going to happen? Because John Thune and the donors don't want it to happen. They think it's racist, they think it's nativist.” — Steve Bannon, former trump adviser

Newsweek

• “This is why we need a national emergency proclamation, a national emergency memo, about the upcoming elections,” — Steve Bannon, former trump adviser

Newsweek

• “Well, it ain't intimidation if you're a United States citizen,” — Steve Bannon, former trump adviser

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• “To this day, it's unclear which party is helped by mail-in voting,” — Jeffrey Toobin, CNN's chief legal analyst, previously

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• “That's not something I've ever heard the president consider,” — Karoline Leavitt, house press secretary

Newsweek