A bill introduced this week by California lawmakers would ban federal immigration agents from being stationed outside polling places, responding to concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers could interfere with voting during the November midterm elections.

The legislation was introduced on Thursday by state senator Tom Umberg and co-authored by state senator Sabrina Cervantes. Umberg said the measure intends to safeguard voters from “ruthless intimidation” near polling locations.

“A person shall not perform any act for the purpose of, or in furtherance of, the enforcement of federal immigration laws while within 200 feet of any polling place, county elections office, or location at which ballots are being counted, canvassed, audited, certified, or recounted,” reads the bill.

The legislation comes after Donald Trump said earlier this month that Republicans should “nationalize” and “take over” voting in at least 15 unspecified locations, repeating his false claims that US elections are plagued by fraud.

“This measure has nothing to do with protecting fake or illegal votes,” Umberg said in a post on X. “This is about safeguarding lawful voters from the kind of ruthless intimidation used by authoritarian regimes around the world to unlawfully influence elections.”

Umberg added: “In California, we respect the Constitution and our democracy, even if the federal government fails to do so, and we will protect every eligible citizen’s right to cast a ballot freely and safely.”

If approved by the legislature and signed by Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, the bill would also expand protections for voters. It would allow counties to open vote centers earlier, increase ballot drop boxes and extend polling hours if immigration enforcement disrupts voting. The bill would also expand buffer zones around voting sites, where political activity is not allowed, from 100ft to 200ft.

The president’s baseless claims of fraudulent voting were echoed by former adviser and rightwing commentator Steve Bannon earlier this month.

“You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November,” Bannon said on his War Room podcast.

Asked about Bannon’s comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “I can’t guarantee that an ICE agent won’t be around a polling location in November … but what I can tell you is I haven’t heard the president discuss any formal plans to put ICE outside of polling locations.”