The Trump administration is set to introduce a new initiative aimed at preventing non-citizens from participating in U.S. elections, a priority for the White House. On Thursday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will update its Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program, collaborating with the Social Security Administration. This update aims to create “a single trustworthy source” for verifying immigration status and U.S. citizenship, as stated in a memo shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation. State and local officials will now have the ability to use Social Security numbers for verifying U.S. citizenship, intending to reduce the chances of foreign individuals voting in American elections.
USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser stated, “For many years, the state has sought tools to help identify and stop election hijacking.” He added that USCIS is making strides to eliminate voter fraud under the guidance of President Trump and Secretary Noem. It seems they are hopeful for further advancements, emphasizing a commitment to restoring confidence in the U.S. electoral process.
What’s interesting about this development is that SAVE, controlled by USCIS, allows various government agencies to verify the immigration status or naturalization of applicants for benefits or licenses. The new structure allows agencies to create a SAVE case using the Social Security number, streamlining submissions for multiple cases simultaneously, which is a first.
Polling data suggests that basic voter protection measures—like requiring photo IDs and proof of citizenship for first-time voters—are quite popular among Americans. Since re-entering the White House, Trump has pushed for reforms aimed at ensuring non-citizens do not disrupt elections. In March, he signed Executive Order 14248 to safeguard the integrity of American elections from fraud and foreign influence.
Furthermore, Trump has shown strong backing for the American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a legislative initiative backed by Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, which passed in the House with only four Democratic votes in favor.
Even with Democratic skepticism regarding the legitimacy of GOP concerns related to non-citizen votes, instances of foreign involvement in U.S. elections have been documented. For example, in April, federal charges were filed against two Ukrainians accused of voting illegally in the 2024 presidential election. There were also charges against an Iraqi national, who participated in the 2020 election.
Officials in states like Texas, Alabama, Virginia, and Ohio have identified about 17,000 non-citizens on their voting rolls and are actively working to remove them ahead of the upcoming 2024 election. Additionally, the group First Legal has filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County, Arizona, over claims that 35,000 registered voters failed to provide proof of citizenship, which aligns with the Trump administration’s concerns.
The administration has hinted at more updates to come. According to a USCIS news release, “We will continue to enhance the SAVE features, ensuring that state and local governments can reliably verify U.S. citizenship to uphold the integrity of the voting process.”
