ICE Analyzes 50 Million Voter Records for Noncitizen Checks

WHO:

CNN - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Trump administration, Democracy Forward, Skye Perryman, Heather Honey, Markwayne Mullin.

Truthout - Nonprofits involved in voter registration.

WHAT:

CNN - ICE reviewed over 50 million voter records to identify noncitizens suspected of illegally registering or voting.

CNN - HSI obtained 50.6 million records from a Justice Department dataset and an additional 48.4 million records from independent sources.

CNN - Investigators found no derogatory information on dozens of New Jersey groups and closed a separate Ohio inquiry after exhausting leads.

CNN - HSI considered deploying undercover agents to investigate organizations suspected of facilitating illegal voter registration by noncitizens.

WHERE:

CNN - Investigations focused on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio.

WHEN:

CNN - A June 1 report indicated the data acquisition and analysis were part of an ongoing initiative.

WHY:

CNN - The operation is part of the Trump administration’s election-integrity campaign aimed at identifying noncitizens in the voter rolls.

CNN - Skye Perryman stated, “It appears the president and his allies want to pick their voters, as opposed to the way things are supposed to function in a democracy where voters pick their leaders.”

HOW:

CNN - HSI described the initiative as a phased national effort involving voter-roll acquisition, data analysis, and field investigations.

CNN - Investigators adopted a “network-based investigative approach” prioritizing organization and facilitation analysis over individual leads.

(UPDATED October 7, 2026 22:05 UTC)

Homeland Security Investigations, along with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, has been reviewing over 50 million voter records to identify noncitizens suspected of illegally registering or voting, as part of an initiative from the Trump administration aimed at election integrity. Investigations have focused on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio, where HSI obtained records from both the Justice Department and independent sources, but found no derogatory information on many New Jersey groups and closed a separate inquiry in Ohio after exhausting leads. Skye Perryman criticized the operation, suggesting it reflects an effort by Trump and his allies to manipulate voter selection rather than uphold democratic principles.