With immigration enforcement stepping up across New Mexico this summer and fall, the Secretary of State’s office is taking proactive steps to address concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could appear at polling locations on Election Day.
State officials outline preparation plan
“Unfortunately, we are a target for this type of enforcement activity,” said Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. She noted that the federal government is focusing on New Mexico and on individuals who are in the state without proper documentation.
Less than a week before voters head to the polls, Toulouse Oliver said her office is working with local election officials to ensure that any potential ICE presence does not disrupt the voting process. “As election officials, we have to prepare for any kind of incident happening at a polling place,” she said. “This is no exception.”
Legal authority and on‑the‑ground measures
In March, New Mexico became the first state to bar armed federal agents, including immigration officials, from entering polling locations. Despite that law, Toulouse Oliver emphasized that poll workers retain the authority to ask anyone who is at the polls illegally to leave the premises.
“A poll official, especially a presiding judge on Election Day, does have the ultimate authority to tell somebody who is at the polls illegally that they need to leave, vacate the premises, unblock the road [or] whatever the case may be,” she explained.
County coordination and voter‑experience focus
Bernalillo County’s Bureau of Elections administrator, Nathan Jaramillo, said the county is collaborating closely with the Secretary of State’s office to keep the voting experience smooth and safe. “That’s our responsibility — to prepare for every circumstance to allow the voter to have the best voting experience possible,” Jaramillo said.
Even with heightened concerns, Jaramillo remains optimistic about voter turnout. “We always want to ensure that the integrity of the election is secure — so we do everything we can to put those safeguards in place, especially this year because of the national narrative,” he added.
Law‑enforcement backup plan
If poll workers encounter a situation they cannot resolve on their own, the state has a backup plan. Toulouse Oliver said local law‑enforcement agencies and state entities, including the Attorney General’s Office, stand ready to assist.
When asked directly whether ICE plans to send agents to New Mexico polling places, a spokesperson for the agency said they would provide more information at a later time.
What voters should know
Election officials encourage voters to report any suspicious activity at their polling place and to follow the guidance of poll judges and local law‑enforcement officers. The preparation efforts aim to keep the focus on a free, fair, and uninterrupted election for all New Mexico residents.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
