Brazilians Fear Voting in New York, and Brazil Seeks Polling Place Protected from ICE - Folha de S.Paulo

Brazilian immigrants living in New Jersey say they will avoid leaving home to vote in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, scheduled for October 4, out of fear of actions by ICE, the U.S. immigration agency. In cities with more "raids," some members of the community avoid going out during the day, have started ordering food through apps and monitor WhatsApp groups that warn of agents’ presence.

Against this backdrop, Brazil’s Consulate General in New York, which is responsible for voters in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, chose an educational complex in Queens as a polling place, farther from areas with large concentrations of Brazilians. The site allows voters to line up inside the buildings, avoiding lines on the streets, since ICE agents cannot enter private premises without a judicial warrant. New York City’s International Affairs Office and the city police helped identify the location.