U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing a new USCIS voter fraud policy, effective Friday, to deny citizenship to and deport non-citizens who have illegally voted or registered to vote.
New USCIS Voter Fraud Policy Detailed
The agency is updating its policy manual to automatically disqualify citizenship applicants who have voted or registered to vote unlawfully. This change is based on a failure to meet the good moral character citizenship requirement.
This policy also applies to those who falsely claimed U. S. citizenship on applications for passports or driver’s licenses.
Under the new guidelines, individuals found to have committed these violations will be issued a Notice to Appear (NTA). This action initiates deportation for illegal voting and refers the individual for potential criminal prosecution.
Officials Emphasize Election Integrity
The policy change aims to address concerns about election security. “Illegal voting undermines the will of the American people and threatens the legitimacy of our elections,” said USCIS Spokesperson Matthew Tragesser.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are making changes to prevent and punish aliens who voted illegally in our elections from gaining U.S. citizenship,” Tragesser stated. He added, “Aliens who facilitate or perpetuate illegal voting face swift and severe consequences.“
Policy Stems From Trump Executive Order
This USCIS policy on non-citizen voting originates from a March executive order by President Donald Trump titled “Preserving And Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” The order directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to verify the citizenship status of individuals registering to vote.
The Trump executive order on election integrity faced legal challenges from 19 Democratic attorneys general. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Washington D.C. subsequently blocked portions of the order related to voter ID requirements.
Judge Denise J. Casper, an appointee of President Barack Obama, ruled in the U. S.
District Court in Massachusetts that “the Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.“
Broader Immigration Enforcement Efforts
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has increased its enforcement activities. The agency has arrested more than 359,000 illegal migrants and removed over 332,000 from the country.
USCIS is scheduled to send an internal leadership guidance memo to its employees on Friday afternoon to implement the updated policy. The change reinforces existing law that requires applicants to demonstrate good moral character to qualify for naturalization.
