Early voting surges as ICE enforcement ramps up before midterms
New Jersey councilwoman reports agents gathering near a Walgreens while experts note increased apprehensions in cities like Portland and New York.
By Hiroshi Sato ·
Early voting numbers have climbed in minority communities across the United States, a trend that contrasts with a recent increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in several states. The surge in enforcement activity has been documented in locations ranging from New Jersey to California and Illinois in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections.
Sandra Wittner, a councilwoman in Dover, New Jersey, received messages early Wednesday morning from residents. The messages described a group of more than a dozen immigration agents gathering outside a Walgreens in the north part of the state. Wittner said neighbors reported a spike in agent presence throughout the day.
Wendy Weiser, a researcher at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, stated that the administration's tactics appear designed to intimidate voters. She noted that despite the visible presence of agents, early turnout data indicates high participation rates.
Wittner described the atmosphere in her community as one of apprehension and fear. Residents were uncertain if a large-scale detention effort was imminent. She noted that determining who was detained or where they were taken proved difficult because the Department of Homeland Security no longer shares timely information on its operations.
When asked about a recent surge in activity, the agency responded that its agents enforce immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, and 24 hours a day. However, reporters have gathered tips about enforcement surges in rural Illinois, Oregon, Detroit, and California throughout October.
An official in the office of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed that staff have noted a rise in ICE activity in the city. A volunteer neighbor in New York, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, said her group has observed what she called cluster raids in recent weeks. These operations involve multiple agents moving from one location to another in quick succession.
Troy Brynelson, a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, described a similar trend in Portland. He said ICE activity picked up noticeably in early October and continued through the month. He noted that the operations appear concentrated in commercial areas.
Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens expressed concern over the timing of these actions. He explained that the goal is often not to be at the polling station itself, but on the perimeter. He warned that mass enforcement actions combined with social media coverage could dissuade voters from going out to cast ballots. Weiser countered that there is no indication the raids are lowering turnout, pointing to large surges in participation in Latino and other targeted communities.
