Democracy Docket reports:

During a norm-shattering appearance at a conservative political conference Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he couldn’t understand why anyone would disagree with a president deploying federal agents to the polls.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Blanche was echoing recent calls from far-right activists for President Donald Trump to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to voting sites during the 2026 midterms — a tactic clearly meant to intimidate voters and poll workers and influence election outcomes.

Blanche, the second-highest-ranking official in the Department of Justice (DOJ), downplayed concerns over ICE agents patrolling voting sites, even though federal law bars the deployment of federal troops or armed federal law enforcement to any polling place unless “such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States.”

“Why is there objection to sending ICE officers to polling places?” Blanche, one of Trump’s former personal attorneys, said during a stage interview. “Illegals can’t vote. It doesn’t make any sense.”

With his comments, Blanche is now the most prominent Trump official to voice support for federal immigration officers patrolling polls. [Continue reading…]

18 U.S. Code § 592 – Troops at polls: Whoever, being an officer of the Army or Navy, or other person in the civil, military, or naval service of the United States, orders, brings, keeps, or has under his authority or control any troops or armed men at any place where a general or special election is held, unless such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; and be disqualified from holding any office of honor, profit, or trust under the United States.