Trump Orders ICE to Track Alleged Fake Voters in Elections

Donald Trump ordered ICE to track alleged fake voters before the midterm elections. The decision raised questions about the use of immigration resources in electoral processes. It also alarmed local officials and voting rights organizations.

The measure, according to an investigation published by EL PAÍS, was based on emails obtained by Democracy Forward. In those messages, agents from the National Security Investigations unit, known as HSI, requested voter records in Texas and North Carolina. The request affected at least 9 voters.

The case adds tension to the campaign heading into the midterms. Additionally, it revives an old discussion about electoral fraud, which Trump has repeated since 2016 without providing solid evidence. According to PolitiFact, electoral fraud in the United States is statistically rare and does not change federal results.

What exactly did ICE request?

In Texas, the request reached Webb County, near the Mexican border. A special agent requested registration documents and voting records for 7 people. The emails do not explain why those names were selected.

The county election administrator, José Luis Castillo, responded skeptically. He told Axios there was nothing relevant in those records. He also suggested that ICE could use its resources on more useful tasks.

ICE’s intervention is striking because the immigration agency does not have a typical role in elections. Its main function is linked to immigration control and domestic security investigations. For this reason, the request raised questions about the scope of the presidential order.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission explains that election administration is local and state. This means that counties manage voter rolls, records, and voting processes. Federal participation in those tasks is usually limited and regulated.

Why does North Carolina raise more suspicion?

In North Carolina, an ICE legal advisor requested data for 2 voters from Forsyth County. One was registered since 2016 and another for 30 years. Both were removed from the voter roll afterward, but the county did not clarify why.

The case draws attention because Forsyth voted overwhelmingly Democratic in 2020 and 2024. That coincidence fueled suspicion about selection criteria. So far, there is no public explanation of how those names were chosen.