As Minnesota heads toward the November midterm election, Secretary of State Steve Simon is reassuring voters that the state is ready for any unexpected scenario, including the unlikely prospect of federal immigration agents appearing at polling places. Simon, a Democratic‑Farmer‑Labor incumbent seeking a fourth term, explained that Minnesota’s statutes already restrict who may be near a voting site, and those rules apply to federal law‑enforcement as well.

Federal officials say ICE will not be deployed

President Trump has repeatedly dismissed claims that undocumented immigrants are voting en masse and has not advocated sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the polls. In a recent interview with Time magazine, the President said he “hadn’t thought about” deploying ICE or declaring a state of emergency for the election.

Trump allies, including Steve Bannon, have made provocative remarks, but officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have consistently stated that there are no plans to send immigration agents to polling locations. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin clarified that while immigration agents could be called to address a specific threat or execute a warrant, they are not being sent to patrol the polls.

State laws and local readiness

Minnesota law bars law‑enforcement officers from stationing within 100 feet of a polling‑place entrance, with only two narrow exceptions: officers who work in the same building on a regular basis, or those summoned by an election judge to respond to an emergency. Simon emphasized that these statutes give local governments the tools they need to enforce the rules and keep voting sites safe.

To further protect voters, Simon’s office and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office have prepared response plans that include filing emergency lawsuits and seeking immediate judicial rulings if any interference occurs. The state also encourages voters who feel unsafe to use early voting or vote‑by‑mail options.

Federal monitoring and funding disputes

The Trump administration announced a plan to send roughly 1,000 federal monitors nationwide for the midterms – about 20 per state. Simon noted that the monitors in Minnesota have been operating in compliance with state law, staying at least 100 feet from polling‑place entrances and conducting their duties from folding chairs while taking notes.

Earlier this year, the administration demanded that Minnesota hand over unredacted voter rolls and threatened to cut federal election funding. Minnesota, along with 33 other states, refused, asserting that the federal government lacks authority to compel the release of such sensitive information. Simon said the lawsuits filed by the federal government have been unsuccessful so far.

Regarding funding, Simon explained that most federal election grants, such as those from the Help America Vote Act, have not been received by Minnesota in recent years, so the threat of a funding cut has had limited practical impact.

Local concerns and responses

During the August primary, the Department of Justice sent 20 monitors to Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Some residents expressed unease, prompting the Secretary of State’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office to dispatch their own observers. Hennepin County officials denied the DOJ request to allow monitors inside polling places, citing the need for a safe, orderly environment.

County spokesperson Joshua Yetman said the decision was based on resident concerns and that the DOJ monitors were treated like any other members of the public, subject to the same distance requirements.

What voters should know

Simon urges Minnesotans to stay informed and report any suspicious activity to election judges or the Secretary of State’s Office at 1‑877‑600‑VOTE. With robust state laws, prepared local response teams, and clear statements from the Trump administration that ICE will not be deployed, the state is positioned to conduct a free and fair election.

Voters who prefer to avoid polling‑place crowds can take advantage of early voting locations and mail‑in ballot options, ensuring that every eligible citizen can cast a ballot safely and without fear of unwarranted federal interference.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.