Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival warned noncitizens not to vote illegally, saying federal authorities would investigate, prosecute and deport those who do. He made the remarks Saturday on “My View with Lara Trump,” ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“Whether it’s now or later, if you illegally cast a vote, we will find you, we will charge you, and we will deport you,” Percival said.
His warning came after DHS announced Wednesday that dozens of noncitizens had been arrested in a nationwide voter-fraud investigation.
“The patriots of ICE have arrested dozens of noncitizens who illegally voted in American elections,” Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in the department’s announcement. He said some of those arrested had criminal records involving offenses such as assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence, drug trafficking, burglary and driving under the influence.
DHS said other people arrested had records that included drug and sex offenses. Mullin said the Trump administration would not allow noncitizens to take part in elections, which he said are “for Americans only.”
The administration’s efforts to identify suspected noncitizen voters have drawn objections from some state election officials.
In October, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs disputed Justice Department findings that federal investigators had identified more than 400 noncitizens illegally registered to vote in the state. Federal officials said some had voted in multiple elections over several decades.
Hobbs said a state review found “several glaring deficiencies” in the list. He argued it included U.S. citizens and was not reliable, adding that election officials could not lawfully reject a registered voter’s ballot without individual evidence that the person was ineligible.
He also said the list included many people who were not currently registered or had inactive status, contrary to the claim that everyone named would receive a ballot in this year’s election.
Percival separately said more than 200 people had been charged in cases involving noncitizen voter fraud.
