NewsKPBS Public MediaOctober 26, 2026San Diego County
NorCal Resist reports ICE agents sighted outside Sutter County elections office
Photo: KPBS Public Media
Immigration enforcement agents were reported stationed outside the Sutter County elections office in Yuba City, raising community concerns about voter intimidation amid federal scrutiny of voter eligibility. Department of Homeland Security representatives stated that the agency conducts targeted operations and did not deliberately target a polling place.
Read the full story at KPBS Public MediaWhy It Matters
The sighting coincides with federal announcements of charges against 28 foreign nationals in California for alleged voting crimes, heightening anxiety among voters regarding potential questioning or intimidation near polling stations.
Key Facts
- An observer from the immigrant rights group NorCal Resist reported seeing ICE agents outside the Sutter County elections office in Yuba City on Monday.
- The sighting occurred on the same day the Trump administration announced charges against 28 foreign nationals in California related to alleged election crimes.
- Photographs from NorCal Resist showed an agent with gear marked ICE and ERO using unmarked vehicles.
- Giselle García stated that the agents remained in the parking lot for slightly over two hours.
- Sutter County registrar of voters Donna Johnston approached the vehicles and handed out informational brochures intended for law enforcement at polling centers.
- The Sutter County sheriff's office confirmed the vehicles and agents did not belong to their department.
- A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that accusations of targeting a polling place are false and that ICE conducts targeted, intelligence-based operations.
- A UC San Diego poll from September found that 40% of national respondents expected immigration agents at community polling places, with higher expectations among Asian, Latino, and Black respondents.
- Local voters interviewed in Yuba City expressed concern over the presence of immigration agents but indicated it would not stop them from casting their ballots.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationNorCal Resist“immigrant rights advocacy group that reported seeing ICE agents”OrganizationOficina Electoral del condado de Sutter“location where the sighting took place in Yuba City”PersonDonna Johnston“Sutter County registrar of voters”OrganizationDepartamento de Seguridad Nacional“federal department providing a statement on ICE operations”OrganizationCapRadio“news organization receiving statements and speaking with voters”PersonMary Page-Molinar“Yuba City voter”OrganizationServicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas“federal immigration enforcement agency”PersonKevin Johnson“UC Davis law professor”OrganizationUC San Diego“university conducting election transparency research”PersonThad Kousser“political science professor and co-director at UC San Diego”PersonLester Matthews“Yuba City voter”PersonDaniel Matthews“Yuba City voter”PersonReynaldo“husband of Mary Page-Molinar”PersonGiselle García“program director for NorCal Resist”