The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informed election officials in California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania of a preliminary review that suggests over 256,000 noncitizens might be registered to vote. This information, obtained by Fox News Digital, was communicated through letters dated Friday.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin explained the department’s process, which involved comparing publicly available voter registration records with federal immigration data. This comparison revealed thousands of potential matches. Mullin urged state election officials to collaborate with DHS to confirm identities before proceeding with any actions.
The department’s estimates suggest there may be as many as 190,832 noncitizens registered in California, 35,152 in New Jersey, 15,903 in Nevada, and 14,576 in Pennsylvania. DHS identified specific figures where registrants matched noncitizen details in its records: 81,336 in California, 19,497 in New Jersey, 8,576 in Nevada, and 8,594 in Pennsylvania, based on names, birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
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Many noncitizens, such as lawful permanent residents or certain visa holders, may have valid Social Security numbers, which DHS used among other identifiers to match records. The letters referred to the findings as preliminary, emphasizing the need for cooperative identity verification to ensure accuracy.
The department stated its readiness to offer immigration records under federal law. The goal is to assist states in verifying whether these individuals should be removed from the voter rolls.
DHS aims to protect election integrity by ensuring only U.S. citizens participate in federal elections. Mullin remarked that a noncitizen vote cancels a lawful U.S. citizen’s vote. He underscored the role of states in managing voter registration while the federal government maintains essential immigration records.
The letters urged state officials to contact DHS by July 24 to start sharing records and support the verification process in advance of future federal elections.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, New Jersey Secretary of State Dale Caldwell, and Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment.
The communication arises amidst efforts to enhance cooperation between states and federal agencies on election security and voter eligibility, emphasizing the utility of federal immigration records in maintaining accurate voter lists.