DHS Tracking Down Any US Citizens Who May Have Voted Before Being Naturalized

The Department of Homeland Security has stepped up investigations into suspected voter fraud, examining cases in which individuals may have registered or voted before becoming naturalised US citizens.

An internal memorandum obtained by CNN states that the effort is being led by Homeland Security Investigations’ Identity and Benefit Fraud Unit. The unit has been directed to review both active and closed cases to identify potential breaches of election law.

The action follows an executive order issued in March by President Donald Trump calling for stricter enforcement of election laws. According to the memorandum, the programme is intended to protect the integrity of elections at all levels and ensure compliance with federal statutes. 

A department spokesperson said that unlawful voting in federal elections is a felony offence and confirmed that such cases would be pursued. The renewed focus forms part of a broader effort by the administration to expand federal oversight in matters relating to citizenship and immigration. 

Alongside investigations into voting irregularities, officials have sought to strengthen procedures for denaturalisation. Allegations of non-citizen voting have been a consistent theme for Mr Trump and his supporters, and Republican lawmakers have advanced proposals requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

Verified cases of non-citizens voting remain uncommon. Election officials acknowledge that administrative errors can result in non-citizens appearing on voter rolls. Reviews of federal immigration data have at times produced inaccurate matches. 

In Idaho, for example, an initial review identified 760 potential non-citizens among more than one million registered voters. Further examination reduced that figure to about a dozen cases referred for federal investigation.

The memorandum cites several criminal statutes that require proof an individual knowingly registered or voted while ineligible. This standard can make prosecutions difficult, particularly where mistakes or misunderstandings are involved. 

Nonetheless, the administration has continued its efforts, working with the Department of Justice to share data and pursue legal action against states that decline to provide voter registration records. The Justice Department has sought extensive voter roll data, including social security and driving licence numbers. 

It has filed 25 lawsuits against state election officials, most of them Democrats, who have refused to release the requested information. Some Republican officials have also raised concerns about the breadth of the requests. In several cases that have reached court, judges have ruled against the administration, dismissing claims or rejecting them on procedural grounds.