Trump Administration Targets Noncitizens on Voter Rolls for Deportation

The Trump administration has intensified efforts to identify and deport noncitizens who registered to vote, including individuals who did so inadvertently through motor vehicle agencies or those who never actually cast a ballot. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice are collaborating to reopen closed voter fraud cases, investigate registration drives, and pursue criminal charges against noncitizens.

To facilitate these efforts, the Department of Homeland Security revamped the SAVE immigration verification tool to scan voter rolls. Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations shifted resources away from transnational crime to prioritize the hunt for voter fraud. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed the administration uncovered over 250,000 cases of noncitizen registration across four states, although he provided no supporting evidence for the figure.

Federal officials have signaled a readiness to take immediate action. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, stated that officials are prepared to arrest or deport those who improperly voted in New Jersey. However, some state leaders are resisting these demands. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has indicated she will not turn over registrant names, arguing that many individuals were registered without intent or due to software glitches.