Arlington Board Sues DHS and DOJ to Stop Armed Federal Agents at Polls

The Arlington County Board filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice on Wednesday to stop the deployment of armed federal agents at polling places during the upcoming midterm elections. The legal challenge targets specific guidelines that permit agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI to station armed personnel near voters.

County officials argue that the current federal directives violate a statute enacted more than 150 years ago. That law explicitly bans the presence of armed military or federal personnel within polling stations. The Board claims these recent moves interfere with the electoral process and create an environment of intimidation for local residents.

Arlington leaders stated that federal announcements have generated fear among the electorate. This anxiety has forced local administrations to divert budget resources toward creating emergency protocols. Officials said they are now coordinating response plans between local police and prosecutors to manage potential conflicts at the polls.

The complaint asks the court to invalidate the policies, asserting that the executive branch has exceeded its authority. The county contends that the federal government is intruding on the state’s traditional power to organize its own elections. Legal representatives for the county emphasized that free voting requires the absence of federal police pressure.

The Board specifically seeks to protect the integrity of early voting sites and Election Day locations. They argue that transparency is essential when voters cast their ballots without the visible presence of armed federal officers. The case will now proceed through the federal court system for a ruling on the scope of executive power in election administration.