The city of Denver and several advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Thursday in federal court in Washington, D.C., asking a judge to prevent the Trump administration from allowing armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to operate at or near polling sites.

The suit, brought by the city along with the League of United Latin American Citizens, Common Cause, and UnidosUS through the group Democracy Forward, targets Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella. It claims the policy of permitting agents to enforce civil immigration laws at voting locations violates federal statutes designed to protect elections from armed interference.

Plaintiffs argue that the presence of federal officers creates confrontation and could deter voters, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations like Denver. The complaint references a federal law that criminalizes the deployment of armed personnel to election sites except to repel armed enemies of the United States. It also alleges the policy is arbitrary and capricious under administrative law standards.

Denver officials noted in the filing that election workers have received training to identify plainclothes agents and de-escalate situations. Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, stated the city would fight to keep ICE agents away from polling locations.

The action comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement following midterm preparations. Critics of the lawsuit contend it represents another effort by sanctuary jurisdictions to shield illegal immigrants from lawful federal operations rather than address genuine threats to voting access.

No specific incidents of ICE interference at Colorado polls were cited in the complaint, which seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prohibit agents from carrying weapons near voting or ballot collection sites.

The case is pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.