Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist and right-wing podcast host, has called for immigration agents to be present at polling stations during the November midterm elections, a move that election officials have long feared could intimidate voters. Speaking on his War Room show on Tuesday, Bannon said: “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November.”
Bannon, who has no formal power but remains influential on the far right and closely tied to the Trump administration, repeated false claims that undocumented immigrants vote in large numbers in US elections. His comments come as election officials nationwide grow increasingly concerned about potential interference from the Trump administration in the midterms, particularly the presence of immigration agents near polling places or in Democratic areas on election day.
Law enforcement at polling stations is generally viewed negatively by election officials, as it can deter voters from casting ballots. Immigration agents, in particular, have been known to cause US citizens and legal residents to stay home due to fear of detention or racial profiling. The Trump administration has previously attempted to take over aspects of elections via an executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote, though courts have blocked much of it.
In Minnesota, where thousands of immigration agents have surged in the last month, US Attorney General Pam Bondi issued demands for the state to turn over its voter rolls to the federal government. The Department of Justice has sued several states to gain access to voter rolls, but election officials have resisted over privacy and security concerns. Bannon warned: “Let’s put you on notice again: ICE is going to be around the polls in the 2026 midterm elections.”
