By Julia Ainsley - NBC News
Officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been instructed to be prepared to protect federal property in Washington, DC, if there are riots on or after Election Day, two DHS officials told NBC News, the sister network of Noticias Telemundo.
The agency is regularly tasked with providing additional security in the nation's capital on the new president's inauguration day (once every four years in late January) but has never intervened to quell riots on election day before.
This unprecedented step was taken in response to nationwide protests and attacks on federal property that occurred throughout much of 2020, officials explained.
Shops prepare for the possibility of violent outbreaks after the elections
Oct. 30, 202002: 47
ICE, CBP and the Federal Protective Service are part of the Working Group to Protect American Communities (PACT), established in June through an executive order from President Donald Trump in response to "the anarchists and extremists of left "which, he said, sought to damage federal monuments and buildings.
[Telemundo Poll: Hispanics support Biden in these key states as much as Clinton in 2016, except for one]
The task force faced a backlash this summer in Portland, Oregon, when officers protecting federal court clashed with protesters for more than two months.
When asked about plans to keep the capital safe on election days, a CBP spokesperson said: "As part of law enforcement under the DHS Working Group to Protect American Communities, CBP will continue to provide support, as requested, to the Federal Protective Service to
protect federal facilities and property if necessary
, and to local partners working on law enforcement if requested.
ICE plans to catch undocumented immigrants who have vowed to voluntarily leave the country and have not done so
Oct. 23, 202000: 21
An ICE official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that
agency agents were ready to secure federal buildings and work with local law enforcement.
Chase Jennings, a DHS spokesman, said the agency is "fully prepared with regards to safety and security on Election Night."
[The fear of riots and the threat of the militias increases the tension and stress before the presidential elections]
"To be clear, the Department of Homeland Security has limited authorities with regard to physical security. Our jurisdiction covers only federal property," Jennings added.