Karoline Leavitt Says She ‘Can’t Guarantee’ ICE Won’t Be Outside Polling Places During 2026 Midterms
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that she cannot guarantee that ICE agents won’t be present at polling locations during the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, a comment prompted by recent remarks from former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
During a press briefing on Feb. 5, reporters asked Leavitt, 28, about the possibility of immigration enforcement being stationed outside polling locations in November. Bannon had earlier suggested on his podcast, “We’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November.”
Leavitt responded:
“That’s not something I’ve ever heard the president consider, no. I can’t guarantee that an ICE agent won’t be around a polling location in November. I mean frankly, that’s a very silly, hypothetical question, but what I can tell you is I haven’t heard the president discuss any formal plans to put ICE outside of polling locations.”
2026 Midterms Context
The midterm elections, scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, will see all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats up for grabs. Leavitt’s remarks come amid ongoing speculation about ICE’s role in domestic events, following past discussions over ICE presence at major gatherings such as the Super Bowl 2026 in Santa Clara, California. DHS officials confirmed recently that ICE will not be enforcing immigration at the NFL championship game.
ICE in the Spotlight
ICE operations have long been a point of public scrutiny. Recent incidents—including the fatal shootings of ICE observers Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis—have intensified debate over the agency’s role at public events.
During the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, ICE will reportedly focus solely on diplomatic security, with no immigration enforcement planned. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, however, criticized ICE as “a militia that kills” and stated they are not welcome in Milan.
Leavitt emphasized that while she cannot provide an absolute guarantee, there are currently no formal plans to station ICE agents at polling places.