Skip to main content

2.0

DHS General Counsel directs OPLA to target unlawful voting to the maximum extent

  1. Original Date Announced

    June 9, 2026

    DHS General Counsel James Percival sent a memorandum to ICE Principal Legal Advisor Charles Well on Executive Order 14248, "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." The memo states that ICE has "long had at its disposal important tools to ensure consequences attach to unlawful voting and related conduct by aliens." It explains that the INA provides for removal of noncitizens who unlawfully vote or falsely claim U.S. citizenship, and does not require proof of specific intent. Percival emphasized that these removability grounds apply even to lawfully present noncitizens and instructed OPLA attorneys to invoke these provisions "to the maximum extent allowed by law."

    Trump 2.0 [ID #2306]

    2026.06.09 DHS - Zealous Enforcement of Removability Charges Related to Illegal Voting
  2. Effective Date

    June 9, 2026
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action

    September 26, 2026

    2026.09.26 Reported: Canadian citizen detained at U.S. border crossing, questioned for hours about voting - CBC News

    CBC News reports that Paige Adamson, a Canadian citizen and 14-year U.S. lawful permanent resident, was detained at the Point Roberts (Washington State--British Columbia) border crossing for six hours and interrogated about falsely claiming she was a U.S. citizen to register to vote and voting in a 2018 state election. DHS cites those allegations as grounds for removing Adamson. A CBP spokesperson stated that when an LPR arrives at a port of entry, their records are screened for "potential unlawful voter registration, illegal voting, or a previous false claim to U.S. citizenship" and may be subject to "rigorous examination and detailed questioning." Depending on the case, the individual may then be placed in formal removal proceedings.

    View Document

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Agency Directive
Subject Matter: Citizenship
Agencies Affected: DHS ICE

Associated or Derivative Policies

To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com