ICE Raids Spike in Several Cities Ahead of Midterms

North New Jersey residents woke up to a surge in federal immigration enforcement early Wednesday morning. In Dover, Councilwoman Sandra Wittner received alerts that more than a dozen agents were gathering outside a Walgreens. Similar reports emerged across the state and in other cities nationwide as the midterm elections approach.

Wendy Weiser, a legal scholar at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, says the tactics deployed in these communities appear designed to intimidate voters. However, data suggests the strategy may be backfiring, as early turnout rises even as enforcement activity increases.

"There was definitely a lot of apprehension and fear," Wittner said. "We just really weren't sure if something huge was about to happen. People were not feeling very comfortable or safe."

Reporting on these operations has become difficult because the Department of Homeland Security no longer shares timely public information on its activities. When asked if a recent surge had occurred, the agency responded that its agents uphold immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Volunteers in New York, Detroit, rural Illinois, Oregon, and California have documented the uptick throughout October. An unnamed member of a New York volunteer group noted that they have seen numerous large operations, or cluster raids, since the summer. The group documents scenes and reminds detainees of their rights, with members asking for anonymity to avoid retaliation.

Troy Brynelson, a reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, said ICE activity has picked up noticeably in Portland compared to the summer, concentrating in commercial areas. Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens expressed concern that enforcement near polling stations could dissuade voters, even if agents are not inside the buildings.

Weiser states there is no indication the raids are reducing participation. Instead, she reports huge surges in early voting in Latino communities and other groups targeted by immigration enforcement. She notes that while intimidation at the polls is illegal and should be reported, the current trend shows Americans are not being deterred from voting.