Evidence of Non-Citizen Voting Mounts as DOJ Pursues Prosecutions and States Review Rolls
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized enforcement, noting prior reluctance among some U.S. attorneys.
Tommy Flynn
The Department of Justice under the Trump administration has accelerated efforts to address non-citizen voting in federal elections, securing approximately two dozen arrests, prosecutions, or convictions in recent months while investigating around 90 additional cases. Officials are also notifying all 50 states that election administrators risk prosecution if they knowingly allow ineligible non-citizens on voter rolls.
Recent cases illustrate the scope. In Florida, three non-citizens pleaded guilty to voting in federal elections, including two who cast ballots in 2020 and one in 2024. A former Kansas mayor born in Mexico faced immigration detention after admitting to illegal voting as a permanent resident. In Hawaii, a 66-year-old Filipino national was charged for the first time in decades with voting in federal contests in 2022 and 2024. A Canadian man in North Carolina received a prison sentence for false citizenship claims dating back years. A Chinese University of Michigan student turned himself in after allegedly registering and voting in 2024, facing felony charges. An Australian in Louisiana and two Pakistani men in New Jersey were also indicted for similar violations.
These prosecutions coincide with state-level discoveries. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson acknowledged finding 15 credible instances of non-citizen voting in 2024 after previously downplaying the issue. Judicial Watch reported nearly 400 non-citizens voted in Washington, D.C.'s 2024 general election. Cooperating states have identified tens of thousands of potential non-citizens on rolls, with expectations of larger numbers in resistant blue states like New York, California, and Illinois.
The Trump DOJ views non-citizen voting as a serious federal crime that undermines citizen-only elections. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized enforcement, noting prior reluctance among some U.S. attorneys. Voting in federal elections is restricted to U.S. citizens under law, though some localities permit non-citizen participation in local races.
The push aligns with broader election integrity efforts, including the stalled Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act. The bill would mandate citizenship proof for federal voter registration and photo ID at polls. President Trump has prioritized it, criticizing Senate inaction despite strong Republican support. House passage occurred earlier, but Senate progress lags amid narrow GOP margins.
Non-citizen voting carries severe consequences beyond criminal charges, including deportation risks for legal residents and barriers to citizenship. The DOJ's notices to states underscore accountability for officials who enable ineligible voting. As reviews continue and cases build, the evidence challenges claims that non-citizen voting is negligible, prompting calls for stronger safeguards ahead of future elections.
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