Officials Investigate Reported Immigration Agent Stop Near Key Largo Early Voting Site

Election officials in Monroe County said on Monday that they hope to conclude soon an investigation into reports that armed, masked federal immigration agents carried out a traffic stop outside an early voting site in Key Largo.

Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies said she was informed that the federal agents were chasing a suspect who had pulled into the Murray Nelson Government Center, located at 102050 Overseas Highway. The allegations remain under review.

A comparable report from the Florida Panhandle has since been explained. Officials said U.S. Border Patrol agents seen near a polling place in Leon County were not there to monitor voters. They were simply casting their own early ballots before leaving the state.

The reports prompted a response from Common Cause Florida, a statewide government watchdog group. The organization said federal immigration agents must obey the law and keep away from places where people are voting.

Amy Keith, the group's executive director, said in a statement that "it is completely unacceptable for federal agents to be at or near polling locations while voting is ongoing, and it is strictly prohibited by law."

Keith added that voters in Florida and across the country deserve to cast ballots without having to walk past armed federal agents. She called the presence of such agents at polling sites during voting "intimidating, plain and simple," and said Floridians "will not stand for it."

Early voting is currently underway across the state. In South Florida, it ends on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Common Cause has set up an "Election Protection Hotline" for voters who have questions or concerns about the voting process. The toll-free number is 866-OUR-VOTE.