Texas Refers 33 Alleged Noncitizen Voters to Attorney General

Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson has referred 33 potential noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally in the 2024 presidential election to the Texas Attorney General for investigation, with criminal charges possible if confirmed. This action follows Texas gaining access to the USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, granted by President Donald J. Trump through an executive order after the Biden administration denied Texas's request. Governor Greg Abbott emphasized the state's commitment to monitor voter rolls and prosecute noncitizen voters, underscoring that only legal citizens are permitted to vote. Texas has previously removed thousands of ineligible voters, including noncitizens, from its rolls and recently passed a bill to add citizenship requirements to the state constitution for voting. The SAVE database access is considered a "game-changer" by state officials and is part of a broader Trump administration effort to strengthen election integrity and prevent illegal voting. The referral and access to federal immigration data come amid ongoing state efforts to safeguard elections against illegal participation by noncitizens.