More than 100 feet away and no whistles: Activists train to respond to ICE at the midterms

Activists are preparing to respond to potential interference from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the upcoming midterm elections. Former civil rights supporters of ICE are now focused on protecting democracy from possible threats. Concerns include immigration agents appearing at polling places to make arrests or intimidating voters.

Zach Mueller, strategist at States at the Core (STAC), warns that even if no arrests occur, the mere presence of ICE agents could discourage voters from exercising their right to vote. STAC, which has trained 55,000 people to monitor ICE operations, recently offered guidance to 150 volunteers on how to respond to threats that could undermine democracy in the midterms.

According to Mueller, activists should act collectively, stay nonviolent, and avoid aggressive behavior even if witnessing horrifying events. Documenting events from a distance of at least 100 feet from polling places is crucial, as this distance is generally required in various locations. Whistles previously used to alert neighbors to the presence of immigration agents are not recommended near polling places, as they could frighten voters.

Volunteers are trained to organize into teams, with some recording events, others relaying information, and others spreading the word while others focus on calming potentially violent situations. Members are also assigned to drive voters to polls, advising them to remain in their vehicles until it's time to vote.

Federal statutes prohibit the deployment of troops or armed men at places where elections are held unless necessary to repel armed enemies. However, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has accused Democrats of "fearmongering" regarding ICE agents at polling places, stating that agents would likely not patrol or monitor sites, but could be present for specific purposes like making arrests. Trump, however, has not ruled out deploying ICE agents to polling places.

Civil rights organizations fear that intimidation tactics targeting Latino, Black, and Asian American voters could occur during the midterms, similar to cases of alleged voter fraud involving non-citizen voters. STAC's training focuses on election-monitoring efforts, ensuring citizens' rights are protected during the upcoming elections.