ICE activity surge was reported Wednesday in parts of New Jersey and other states, with local officials and residents describing a marked increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations even as early voter participation climbs.
Before dawn in Dover, New Jersey, Councilwoman Sandra Wittner said messages began circulating about immigration agents gathering near a Walgreens. Through the day, neighbors across northern New Jersey described more ICE presence. Similar accounts have emerged from cities and states nationwide in the weeks before the midterm elections, according to reports compiled by public radio outlets.
Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School said the administration’s tactics in communities appear designed to intimidate voters. She added that early turnout is nevertheless rising.
ICE activity surge draws scrutiny across states
Wittner said residents felt anxious and unsafe. She noted it was hard to determine who, if anyone, had been detained. Reporting in real time on enforcement has grown more difficult because the Department of Homeland Security no longer shares timely public updates on operations.
When asked whether enforcement had recently increased, the agency responded that ICE agents enforce immigration laws in all 50 states around the clock.
Tips to public radio stations have described stepped-up activity in rural Illinois, Oregon, Detroit, and California throughout October. An official in the office of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the city has also noted more enforcement.
A member of a volunteer neighbor group in New York, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, said they have witnessed more operations since the summer. The group documents enforcement scenes, reminds people of their rights, and alerts nearby residents. In recent weeks they have observed large-scale efforts, or cluster raids, involving multiple agents moving from one location to another.
On the West Coast, Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter Troy Brynelson reported a similar rise in Portland. He said ICE activity appeared focused in commercial areas and was noticeably higher than over the summer.
Juan Proaño of the League of United Latin American Citizens voiced concern that the timing so close to the midterms could chill participation. He said it is not about ICE at the polling place itself, but potentially at the perimeter, and that high-profile actions, amplified by social media and news coverage, could deter some voters.
Weiser said there is no evidence the reported raids are suppressing turnout. She said early voting has surged in communities of color, including Latino communities. Even so, she noted that intimidation at the polls is illegal and should be reported.
She added that people should remain focused on casting ballots and understanding why is voting important in the 2026 midterm elections, despite concerns about enforcement activity.