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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) general counsel James Percival warned noncitizens against voting illegally during a Saturday appearance on “My View with Lara Trump,” saying federal authorities will track them down, charge them and deport them as the country prepares for Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“Our message now is, 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.
The Department of Homeland Security has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport undocumented immigrants who vote in American elections. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
His comments follow a Wednesday DHS press release announcing that dozens of noncitizens had been arrested on charges related to the agency’s nationwide voter fraud crackdown.
“The patriots of ICE have arrested dozens of non-citizens who illegally voted in American elections,” Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in the press release. “Some of them have criminal histories that include assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence, drug trafficking, burglary, and driving under the influence. The Trump Administration will not allow illegal aliens to steal the votes of hardworking American citizens. American elections are for Americans only.”
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According to DHS, several of those arrested also had criminal records involving offenses ranging from drug crimes to sex offenses.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s efforts to identify suspected noncitizen voters have faced pushback from some state election officials.
In October, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs challenged findings from the Justice Department last week after federal officials said investigators had identified more than 400 noncitizens illegally registered to vote in the state, some of whom they said had cast ballots in multiple elections dating back decades.
DHS General Counsel James Percival says over 200 people have been charged with noncitizen voter fraud as the agency vows more cases are coming. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images)
Hobbs pushed back against the findings, saying the state’s review of the list uncovered “several glaring deficiencies.”
“This list includes United States citizens and is not reliable. Without individualized proof of ineligibility, it would be both irresponsible and illegal for election officials to decline to process a registered voter’s ballot,” he said.
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“That analysis reflects a significant number of people on your list who are not currently registered to vote or are on inactive status, contradicting your representations that all the individuals included in the list will receive a ballot in this year’s election,” he added.
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Separately, Percival said more than 200 people have been charged in connection with noncitizen voter fraud.
Digital’s Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
