California Latinos Take Pride in Voting in Person. ICE at Polls Could Deter That | KQED

"As in-person voting begins in California's special election on redistricting, Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly asserted that the Trump administration could send immigration agents to polling places in an attempt to intimidate voters and depress turnout. Newsom has not provided any evidence to suggest that the Department of Homeland Security will deploy immigration agents to polling sites. But he pointed to the Los Angeles campaign launch event for Prop. 50, his plan to redraw the state's congressional districts to favor Democrats,"

"A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote in a statement that the agency "is not planning operations targeting polling locations," but that if agents are tracking "a dangerous criminal alien" who goes near a voting site they could be arrested there. A spokesperson for Customs and Border Patrol did not respond to emailed questions."

""It's a cultural thing," said Martinez. "People want to show up and say, 'I'm patriotic, here's my civic duty. I'm here to vote, I'm here to make my voice heard.' And when you quell that, it's dangerous. And it's actually sad.""

In-person voting began in California's special election on redistricting as officials warned that federal immigration agents could appear near polling places and possibly intimidate voters. Governor Gavin Newsom suggested the Department of Homeland Security might deploy agents but provided no evidence of planned operations. He cited a Los Angeles campaign event for Prop. 50 where federal agents blocked supporters and detained a strawberry vendor. ICE said it was not planning operations targeting polling locations but could arrest a tracked "dangerous criminal alien" near a voting site. A Latino voter survey found 53% planned in-person voting, and critics raised turnout and disenfranchisement concerns.

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