Democratic Rep. Lateefah Simon of California has accused Republicans of attempting to discourage Latino citizens from voting in the November 3 midterm elections, as immigration arrests across the state raise concerns about voter intimidation.
"We know what Republicans are trying to do — intimidate Latino citizens so they stay at home and don't exercise their right to vote," Simon, who represents California's East Bay, told San Francisco-based public broadcaster KQED in an emailed statement.
Her accusation follows immigration operations in California's Central Valley, where advocates reported more than 100 arrests, including farmworkers. Although reports of a broader, 45-day statewide ICE operation remain unverified, immigrant rights organizations warn that fear of detention could discourage eligible voters from participating.
The concerns extend to mixed-status families, in which some relatives are U.S. citizens while others lack legal immigration status. Jacob Sandoval, director of the California chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told KQED that families may discourage eligible relatives from visiting polling places because of enforcement fears.
At a news conference in Los Angeles, immigration advocates similarly accused the Trump administration of attempting to suppress turnout.
"The timing of these actions, just weeks before the midterm elections, is no accident," Jeannette Zanipatin, policy director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times.
The organization's executive director, Angelica Salas, said legal observers would be deployed to polling places statewide. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass encouraged residents concerned about enforcement to vote by mail.
The concerns arise amid a separate dispute over voter eligibility. The Justice Department has challenged California over ballots sent to more than 20,000 registered voters whose citizenship status federal officials have questioned.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber said she would examine evidence supporting the allegations but would not remove eligible voters from the rolls without sufficient justification.
Meanwhile, immigration advocates have sought to distinguish confirmed enforcement operations from unverified reports circulating in immigrant communities. KQED reported that advocates had not independently confirmed details of the rumored statewide deployment, including its proposed duration and geographic scope.
The Department of Homeland Security rejected suggestions that people lawfully present should fear immigration enforcement. Spokesperson Chandler Rebel said those obeying the law "have nothing to fear." Federal officials have previously said ICE would not deploy agents to polling places.
California law prohibits certain arrests within 200 feet of polling locations on Election Day, but KQED reported that the restriction does not extend to the preceding early-voting period.
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