(Washington, DC) – The United States government should order federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers not to operate in the vicinity of polling places, early voting locations, or drop boxes during the midterm electoral period, Human Rights Watch said today. The presence of these federal agents could deter people from voting.

“ICE officers’ abuses have already seriously affected US citizens who have been stopped, beaten, detained, deported, and even killed,” said Philippe Bolopion , executive director at Human Rights Watch. “Voters should not have to fear being caught in an ICE dragnet when they head to the polls.”

In-person early voting is already taking place in the majority of states.…