Activists train to monitor possible ICE activity at US midterm polling places

Activists in the United States are preparing for possible immigration enforcement activity around polling places during the November 3 midterm elections.

They worry that even the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could frighten voters and discourage them from voting.

The groups have not said that such activity is certain to happen.

One organization says it has trained about 55,000 people to respond to ICE operations, and it recently held election-focused training for about 150 people.

Volunteers are told to work in teams, stay nonviolent, follow local laws and document events without interfering.

They are also warned to keep the required distance from polling places, generally 100 feet, and not to use whistles that could alarm voters.

A federal law dating to the Civil War bars troops or armed men from election locations except in specific circumstances, and the volunteers are preparing in case agents violate the law.