The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is intensifying efforts to deport undocumented immigrants who vote unlawfully in U.S. elections.
In a letter on Monday, DHS General Counsel James Percival directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to implement stricter penalties, including deportation, against undocumented individuals who fraudulently partake in the voting process. The Immigration and Nationality Act mandates the removal of aliens involved in illegal voting.
DHS emphasized that illegal voting and false claims of U.S. citizenship are closely related. Percival reiterated, “The importance of free, fair, and honest elections is without question. Illegal voting by aliens dilutes the votes of American citizens and undermines our democracy. It must have consequences.”
This directive aligns with the Trump administration’s policies, which include neighborhood checks for citizenship applicants. President Trump’s March 2025 executive order, titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” initiated changes aimed at preventing non-citizen voting and minimizing systemic errors. These measures include revising voter registration, updating voting machine standards, and refining mail-in ballot rules.
Recent cases underscore the necessity of these actions. In March, authorities charged Mauritanian citizen Mahady Sacko with voter fraud, alleging participation in every presidential election since 2008. Later, in May, four noncitizens faced charges for allegedly voting in multiple federal elections and making false statements when applying for U.S. citizenship. Voting in state and federal elections is legally prohibited for noncitizens.
This move follows the August 2025 policy update by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which bars green card holders who have voted or registered to vote from obtaining citizenship.
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