Early voting surges as ICE enforcement spikes nationwide

Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has increased across multiple states in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections, according to reports from NPR and its member stations.

The surge includes large operations in rural Illinois, Oregon, Detroit, and California throughout October. In north New Jersey, a spike in agents occurred on Wednesday morning. Councilwoman Sandra Wittner received messages that a dozen or more officers were gathering outside a Walgreens. Neighbors reported seeing the agents throughout the day.

Wendy Weiser, of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, says the administration's tactics appear designed to intimidate voters. She notes that early turnout is rising despite the presence of federal agents. Wittner recalls a sense of apprehension and fear among residents. She was unsure who was detained or where, a common difficulty because the Department of Homeland Security no longer shares timely public information on its operations.

When NPR asked the agency if a recent surge had occurred, it responded that ICE agents uphold immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, and 24 hours a day. An official in New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the city has noted the increase. A member of a volunteer neighbor group in New York, who asked not to be named due to fear of retaliation, described the change. She said the group documents operations and reminds detained individuals of their rights.

"In the past few weeks we've seen numerous large operations, or what we call cluster raids, multiple agents going to one spot and then the next," she said. In Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter Troy Brynelson reported a similar trend. He stated that ICE activity picked up in early October and has continued. He noted the operations seem concentrated in commercial areas. "I'd say it's a noticeable uptick compared to what we've seen over the summer," Brynelson said.

Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens expressed concern about the timing. He clarified that the issue is not agents at the polling station, but at the perimeter. "Mass enforcement actions could be away from the polls, but with social media and the news, it could be enough to dissuade somebody from actually going out to vote," Proaño said.

Weiser says there is no indication the raids are affecting turnout. Instead, she reports a surge in early voting in minority communities. "The good news is: it isn't working. Americans are tuning this out and we are not seeing a significant impact on participation. And we are actually seeing huge surges in participation in communities of color, and in Latino communities, and in all the communities that have been targeted by ICE and DHS," Weiser said. She added that intimidation at the polls is illegal and should be reported.