By James Morley III | Tuesday, 10 March 2026 12:44 PM EDT
The Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing multiple Trump administration agencies of unlawfully withholding records related to potential federal law enforcement or military involvement at polling places.
The complaint targets the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense, alleging the agencies failed to respond to 11 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted in October. Those requests sought documents about any plans to deploy federal agents, immigration officers, or troops to polling places, ballot drop boxes, or election offices during the voting period and certification process.
According to the lawsuit, the DNC sent FOIA requests to components including the FBI, DOJ’s Civil Rights and Criminal Divisions, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the National Guard Bureau. Federal law requires agencies to respond within 20 working days with a limited extension allowed. Yet the DNC states it has received no substantive responses or records more than four months later.
“Nearly five months later, the DNC has received neither substantive responses nor responsive documents, not even a list of documents withheld under statutory exemptions,” the lawsuit states.
The DNC asked a federal judge to compel the agencies to search for and release all responsive documents and provide a list of any records withheld under FOIA exemptions. The lawsuit comes amid heightened political conflict over election security. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that stronger enforcement is needed to prevent illegal aliens from voting, an issue Republicans say remains inadequately addressed.
Congressional Republicans have pushed measures such as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections. Democrats counter that federal law enforcement presence near polling locations could intimidate voters, particularly in immigrant communities.
The DNC’s complaint cites administration statements and agency actions it claims have raised fears of armed officers or troops appearing at voting sites. Republicans argue concerns about voter intimidation are overstated and note federal law already bars noncitizens from voting. Critics of the Democratic position say the party’s push to limit immigration enforcement near polling places, including keeping ICE agents away from voting locations, undermines its claims that non-citizen voting is not a concern.
During a tense exchange on Capitol Hill last week, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was challenged by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who asked: “Will you rule out the deployment of ICE to polling places this November?” Noem replied: “Do you plan on illegals voting in our elections, Senator?”
The lawsuit does not allege federal agents have already been deployed to polling places but seeks records that could reveal whether such plans exist. The case asks the court to order the agencies to produce documents and comply with FOIA deadlines.
