Trump Admin Claims 250K Noncitizens Registered to Vote in Four States
Washington — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Friday doubled down on President Trump's assertion that more than a quarter of a million noncitizens are registered to vote in four states, though the administration has yet to release detailed evidence backing up the figure. The claim comes as the Trump administration pushes for tighter election security measures ahead of the November midterm elections.
In a news conference following President Trump's Thursday address to the nation on election integrity, Mullin said the alleged 250,000 noncitizens were registered in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada — all states that have refused to hand over voter data to the federal government. In 23 states cooperating with the Trump administration and using an upgraded federal database, Mullin added that another 28,000 noncitizens were found registered to vote.
What's Behind the 250,000 Figure?
The White House told reporters the estimate came from an analysis of commercial databases. But election experts warn that method is prone to errors. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said during a CBS News special report that such data likely includes many eligible voters, meaning states could break the law by removing them from rolls.
“I guarantee you, that data includes a ton of people, maybe even a majority of people, who are absolutely eligible voters,” Becker said. His group has found that allegations of noncitizen voting often stem from misunderstandings or mischaracterizations of complex voter data, and confirmed cases are rare.
How Big Is the Problem Really?
Federal law already bans noncitizens from voting in federal elections, and no state allows it in statewide contests. The 250,000 figure represents roughly 0.1% of the 209 million active registered voters in the 2020 election and about 0.6% of the nearly 40 million voters in the four states in question for 2024.
State audits tell a different story. In Georgia, a 2024 citizenship audit found just 20 noncitizens out of 8.2 million registered voters. Ohio identified 597 noncitizen registrations, with 138 actually casting ballots. Texas found 2,724 potential noncitizens out of 18.6 million voters. Louisiana flagged 390 noncitizens, with 79 voting. And in Iowa, Secretary of State Paul Pate confirmed 277 noncitizens registered and 35 who voted in the 2024 general election — out of 2.1 million registered voters.
How Are the Four States Responding?
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, defended his state's voter rolls as “properly maintained and updated” but said he would review any DHS data. Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, a Democrat, called the numbers “wildly speculative.” California's Shirley Weber expressed skepticism, saying the White House's methodology “does not inspire any level of confidence.”
What's the Trump Administration Doing?
President Trump has signed executive orders tightening mail-in ballot rules and requiring proof of citizenship to register, though courts have blocked them. The Justice Department is suing 30 states to obtain full voter rolls, with 16 lawsuits already dismissed. DHS also overhauled its SAVE database to help states verify citizenship, but a federal judge ruled the centralized system unlawful and said it led to wrongful removals of U.S. citizens from voter rolls.
The administration is also pushing Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would mandate photo ID to vote and in-person proof of citizenship to register. Critics argue these measures are unnecessary and burdensome, but supporters say they are essential to protect election integrity.
For Iowa voters, the debate hits close to home. With 35 noncitizens confirmed to have voted in the 2024 election here, the state's experience shows the issue is real but limited. As the midterms approach, expect this fight over election security to intensify — and for Iowa's leaders to weigh in on both sides.