A coalition of advocacy groups and the Democratic-led city of Denver has filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from sending armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to polling places before the November midterm elections. The lawsuit, filed in the federal district court in Washington, D.C., argues that any plan to have armed agents at polling locations or near sites where votes are collected would be unlawful. It specifically targets the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and their leaders, Markwayne Mullin and David Venturella. The suit was brought by Democracy Forward, a liberal-leaning legal organization, on behalf of groups such as the League of United Latin American Citizens, Common Cause, UnidosUS, and the city of Denver. The legal action cites a federal law that criminalizes the deployment of "any troops or armed men" to election sites unless it is necessary to repel "armed enemies of the United States." The lawsuit argues that the administration’s proposed use of armed agents does not meet this exception. While some right-wing figures, including former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, have encouraged ICE to "surround the polls," Trump administration officials have not confirmed such plans. However, they have not completely ruled out the presence of agents at polling sites under certain circumstances. At a recent news conference in New York City, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that ICE is not meant to patrol polling places. However, he acknowledged that agents could be present if there is a specific threat to the site or if they are serving a warrant for someone they have been actively tracking. ICE, which is primarily responsible for locating, arresting, detaining, and deporting individuals who have violated immigration laws, also has a branch called Homeland Security Investigations. This branch has historically focused on international criminal activity but has increasingly been involved in immigration enforcement and investigations into alleged voter fraud. In a separate statement, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. military has no plans to deploy troops or National Guard soldiers to polling places. The lawsuit and the surrounding debate highlight concerns about the potential impact of armed enforcement personnel on the integrity and accessibility of the voting process.