State Senate reviewing bill that would block immigration agents at polls

Two California senators co-introduced a legislative package last month that would ban federal immigration enforcement officials from monitoring the outside of election polling sites as well as expanding voter access.

Senators Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) announced the joint legislation on Feb. 20 in response to federal actions they said are “aimed at undermining state election authority.” In addition to prohibiting immigration enforcement agents within 200 feet of voting location, Senate Bill 884 would require voting centers to open earlier and more ballot drop boxes to be made available, among other things. SB 73 would prohibit federal government agents from inspecting voting machines unless authorized by a court order.

“Our state is facing serious threats from the Trump administration, and we will not treat them as idle or theoretical," said Umberg in a prepared statement. “California has both the constitutional right and responsibility to run our own safe and secure elections, and we intend to do exactly that. We will protect our voters, defend local control and uphold our democracy regardless of whether the federal government chooses to respect those principles.”

Amidst increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity throughout President Donald Trump’s second administration, as well as the President’s repeated false claims of election fraud, the White House has not declined the possibility of ICE agents monitoring election sites.

Concerns over federal overreach were renewed after Trump said in an interview last month that “Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,” and take over at least 15 states.

In addition, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last month that while the president does not have formal plans to place ICE at polling sites, “I can't guarantee that an ICE agent won't be around a polling location in November.”

Democratic officials across the country have been sounding the alarm over voter intimidation during this year’s midterm elections. The GOP, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, have made it clear they know if the Republican Party loses control of Congress, Trump is likely to be impeached.

California Sen. Adam Schiff has echoed these concerns, saying during an ABC interview that the party has to “prepare for the worst,” and that he believes the president “will do everything he can to suppress the vote.”

SB 73 is currently awaiting its second committee review, while SB 884 has so far only been introduced. SB 884 would apply to all elections between 2026 through 2028, except for the June 2026 primary election.

If the two bills pass the State Senate and are signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the laws would significantly alter state election procedures. Key provisions include allowing extended poll hours if federal interference occurs, permitting counties to open early voting centers sooner, increasing the number of ballot drop boxes and doubling the existing political activity buffer zone around voting centers to 200 feet.

Cervantes also introduced SB 851 in 2025, which passed the Senate and was signed into law by Newsom. The law also deals with safeguarding elections, reinforcing existing prohibitions that block the “hiring or arranging” of peace officers, including federal law enforcement, at voting locations. SB 851 also protects county registrars from being pressured by the federal government to refuse to certify results of an election.

“While we’ve made significant progress strengthening voter protections and defending California against federal interference in our elections, there is still work to be done,” Cervantes said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to partnering with my colleagues to advance these critical protections and defend the Golden State.”