Border Official Questions Democrats on Election Security
Tom Homan, a key figure in border security, raised questions on Tuesday regarding Democrats’ opposition to the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) along with their overall position on election integrity and immigration issues.
While Republicans advocate for nationwide voter ID requirements through the Save America Act, Democrats label the bill as discriminatory. Speaking on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” Homan criticized the Democratic stance on voter access and immigration, arguing that their viewpoints are inconsistent.
“Are illegal aliens voting? I mean, honestly, what are they afraid of? They claim that illegal aliens don’t participate in elections. Yet, part of the Department of Homeland Security’s job is to ensure election security. I can’t disclose future plans, but if only U.S. citizens can vote, then what’s the concern?” Homan stated. “They ought to prioritize the safety and security of our nation. And why isn’t the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] receiving sufficient funding? That’s something they need to clarify.”
Homan attributed the rise in illegal immigration at the southern border to years of lax immigration enforcement.
“They can express as much anger as they like towards ICE. But let’s remember—they created this situation. They’ve had four years of open borders, no immigration enforcement. We reached a historical high of illegal immigration at the southern border during that time. They knew about it, and yet their congressional members stayed silent. They’re complicit and not taking action,” he said. Homan referenced statements from former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who claimed the border was secure upon taking office, asserting that ICE is merely responding to the consequences of those open-border policies.
In March 2021, Mayorkas declared that “the border is safe” and reiterated similar claims on various news programs. Homan pointed out that those statements can be found in a video clip where Mayorkas insisted, “The border is safe, but the border is not open.”
According to Homan, the growth of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a direct result of the previous administration’s lenient immigration practices. “They should keep this in mind—it’s just basic math: Why are we in this situation? Why is ICE bringing on more personnel? Why did President Trump win the presidency? It was to ensure we secure our borders and enforce immigration laws,” Homan remarked. “That’s the direction we are heading, while they’ve spent four years preparing for more relaxed border policies. It’s imperative they don’t forget that.”
The SAVE Act is a Republican-led initiative aimed at enhancing election security. It stipulates that proof of U.S. citizenship is required for registering to vote in federal elections. Passed in April by the House with a narrow 216-213 vote, only one Democrat sided with the Republicans on this. The proposal also demands that voters present a photo ID at polling stations and seeks to end mail-only voter registrations. Republicans argue that these measures are crucial for securing elections, whereas Democrats caution that it could deter voter participation.
Senate Democrats are currently blocking the bill, which has stalled even after receiving approval from the House. It remains stuck due to the 60-vote threshold, having hampered several conservative initiatives during this Congress.
