The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued new instructions for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport undocumented immigrants who participate in voting during American elections.
In a directive sent on Monday, DHS General Counsel James Percival instructed ICE leadership to impose harsher penalties, including deportation, on individuals residing illegally in the U.S. who are found guilty of voter fraud.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, non-citizens who engage in illegal voting activities in U.S. elections are subject to removal from the country.
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The DHS emphasized that illegal voting is frequently accompanied by false claims of U.S. citizenship, suggesting that these offenses are closely linked.
DHS stated that illegal voting and making a false claim of U.S. citizenship often go “hand-in-hand.”
“The importance of free, fair, and honest elections is without question. Echoing the words of President Trump, ‘the right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election,’” Percival said. “Illegal voting by aliens dilutes the votes of American citizens and undermines our democracy. It must have consequences.”
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Percival’s directive will help further implement policies similar to those from President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” according to DHS.
That order outlines sweeping changes to voter registration, voting machine standards, and mail-in ballot rules, leaning heavily on the administration’s stated goals of preventing non-citizen voting and reducing systemic errors.
In recent months, several undocumented immigrants have been charged with voting illegally in U.S. elections.
In March, Mauritanian citizen Mahady Sacko was charged in connection with voter fraud for allegedly voting in every presidential election since 2008, authorities said at the time.
In May, four noncitizens were charged with allegedly illegally voting in multiple federal elections and allegedly making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship. Noncitizens are legally barred from voting in state and federal elections.
The directive follows an August 2025 announcement by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which updated its policy manual to bar green card holders who have voted or registered to vote from obtaining citizenship.
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