Federal immigration officials have expanded their involvement in investigating potential noncitizen voting, including by seeking voter registration information directly from election officials in Texas.
In 2026, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has requested information involving individual Texas voters as part of election fraud investigations. The requests come amid a broader federal effort to compare voter information with citizenship and immigration records.
For immigrants in Texas, these developments are important for another reason: registering to vote or voting when someone is not legally eligible can create serious immigration and criminal consequences.
What Information Are Federal Officials Seeking?
Federal efforts to examine voter records have taken several forms.
Texas previously provided its statewide voter roll to the U.S. Department of Justice. That information included identifying data such as dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers.
Federal officials have also sought more detailed information from individual Texas counties. In April, multiple counties received or were told to expect federal subpoenas seeking voter registration applications, signatures, and voting history. HSI investigators later sought individual voter files directly from local election officials in Texas.
The Department of Homeland Security has said HSI is investigating election fraud, while the broader federal government has been working to identify potential noncitizens on voter rolls.
Why Does Immigration Status Matter?
Only U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections. For noncitizens, an improper voter registration or vote can create consequences that extend well beyond the election system.
Immigration law can make certain unlawful voting a ground of inadmissibility or deportability. A false claim to U.S. citizenship can also create significant immigration problems, depending on the circumstances.
Those issues can surface later during an immigration proceeding, including when someone applies for naturalization or another immigration benefit.
A recent Texas case demonstrates the potential stakes. In July, a lawful permanent resident pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal voting and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on Texas voter documents. The investigation involved HSI along with other federal and state authorities.
Are Voter Records Always Accurate?
The government’s efforts have also generated concerns about how citizenship information is being identified and verified.
Texas previously used the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to identify 2,724 registered voters as potential noncitizens. Texas election officials later determined that some of the people flagged had already provided the state with proof of U.S. citizenship.
The use of SAVE for voter eligibility checks has also faced legal challenges over privacy and accuracy. These disputes show that being identified through a database review does not necessarily mean someone registered or voted unlawfully.
What If You Are Concerned About a Past Registration or Vote?
A noncitizen who believes they may have registered to vote, voted in an election, or indicated that they were a U.S. citizen should not assume the issue is insignificant.
It can also be risky to attempt to explain or correct the situation without first understanding the potential immigration consequences. What happened, what representations were made, the person’s status at the time, and other circumstances may all matter.
Peek Law Group helps immigrants throughout Texas understand how past conduct may affect immigration status, applications, naturalization, and potential removal proceedings. Because our attorneys also practice criminal defense, we can evaluate situations in which immigration and criminal issues overlap.
If you have questions about a past voter registration, voting history, or claim of U.S. citizenship and how it could affect your immigration case, contact Peek Law Group. Understanding the potential consequences before taking action can help you make informed decisions about what comes next.
