DHS Secretary Defends Citizenship Checks for Elections

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin spoke out on Sunday in support of President Donald Trump’s initiative regarding citizenship verification in federal elections. He emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security is already preparing for the 2026 midterm elections by reviewing voter records.

“Our mission is to uphold the Constitution, which means ensuring that only American citizens are voting,” Mullin said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union.

When questioned about the government’s plans for handling voter information under Trump’s directive, Mullin mentioned a focus on maintaining “the integrity of elections.”

He argued that the federal election process is fundamental to the nation and insisted that there should be nothing controversial about confirming citizenship.

“We need to ensure that every vote truly counts. We don’t want any games, like those allegedly happening in sanctuary cities,” Mullin noted. “I’m not saying those issues are arising there; I just think it’s prudent to conduct thorough checks.”

Hunt pressed Mullin about whether the instances of reported voter fraud were substantial enough to warrant the actions being taken, citing 25 prosecutions by the Heritage Foundation. Mullin dismissed the idea that this number is too small to act upon.

“Twenty-five is too many,” he argued, stressing that even one fraudulent vote is unacceptable. “This isn’t just numbers; it affects lives. It’s all preventable.”

Mullin expressed a desire for the upcoming midterms to be secure and trustworthy, yet he didn’t specify which states or voter rolls he was referencing while discussing the broader claims about registration processes.

“When we look closely at some voter rolls, we find thousands registered who’ve received mail-in ballots,” he pointed out.

This discussion arose after Mullin was asked during his confirmation hearing about the potential placement of ICE officers at polling locations. At that time, he questioned why there was apprehension regarding immigration enforcement in those settings, stating, “If you’re not a citizen, you shouldn’t be voting in the first place.”

On March 31, Trump signed an executive order mandating the DHS and the Social Security Administration to compile a list of state citizens to share with election officials in advance of federal elections, aiming to clarify eligibility and uphold mail-in and absentee voting procedures.