Early Voting Surges as ICE Activity Spikes Nationwide

Early voting numbers are climbing sharply in communities across the United States, even as local officials and volunteers report a noticeable increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the final stretch before the midterm elections.

The rise in activity was visible in Dover, New Jersey, on Wednesday. Councilwoman Sandra Wittner began receiving messages before dawn about a gathering of more than a dozen immigration agents outside a Walgreens. Throughout the day, residents in north New Jersey documented a spike in enforcement actions. Wittner described the atmosphere as one of apprehension, noting that neighbors were unsure if a large-scale operation was imminent and did not feel safe.

This pattern is not isolated to New Jersey. Reports gathered by NPR and its member stations indicate a similar surge in activity in cities and states across the country. In New York, an official within the office of Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that the administration has observed increased ICE presence since the summer. A member of a volunteer group that documents these operations said the agency has been conducting numerous large operations, often referred to as cluster raids, where multiple agents move from one location to another.

In Portland, Oregon, reporter Troy Brynelson noted that ICE activity picked up in early October and has continued throughout the month. He stated that the enforcement seems concentrated in commercial areas and represents a noticeable increase compared to the summer. In Detroit, California, rural Illinois, and Oregon, local stations have received tips regarding similar surges in October.

Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School said the tactics appear designed to intimidate voters. She noted that while there is no indication the raids are lowering turnout, early voting is actually surging in minority communities. Weiser stated that Americans are tuning out the news and participation is rising in Latino communities and other groups targeted by the Department of Homeland Security.

The difficulty in tracking these operations has increased because the Department of Homeland Security no longer publicly shares timely information on its actions. When NPR asked the agency if there had been a recent surge, it responded that ICE agents uphold immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, and 24 hours a day.

Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens expressed concern about the timing of the enforcement. He explained that the issue is often ICE presence at the perimeter of polling stations rather than inside them. Proaño said that mass enforcement actions, even if away from the polls, can dissuade voters from going out to vote due to social media coverage and news reports.

Weiser added that intimidation at the polls is illegal and should be reported. She emphasized that the current data shows a surge in participation in communities of color, contradicting the theory that the operations are successfully suppressing the vote.

Volunteers in New York continue to go to scenes of operations to document them, remind those being detained of their rights, and alert neighbors. The group operates under a policy of not using member names publicly to avoid retaliation.

The increase in activity has been documented anecdotally by reporters and officials in multiple states. The trend has been observed since the summer and has intensified in the weeks leading up to the election.