DHS Orders Deportation of Undocumented Immigrants Who Vote

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expedite the deportation of undocumented immigrants who vote in American elections. In a directive issued June 9, 2026, DHS General Counsel James Percival ordered the agency to enforce stricter penalties, including removal, for those living unlawfully in the U.S. who fraudulently cast ballots.

This action implements a March 2025 executive order signed by President Donald Trump titled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections. The order mandates federal agencies to verify voter eligibility, enforce election laws, and prosecute non-citizens who vote unlawfully. The move follows the failure of the SAVE America Act to pass in the Senate.

This enforcement directive builds on an 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. James Percival stated that illegal voting by aliens undermines democracy and must have consequences.