ICE investigating voter registration groups with help from election activists

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 00:00 · Archive

US immigration authorities are investigating nonprofits suspected of registering noncitizens to vote, using data from right-wing election activists.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating nonprofits suspected of registering noncitizens to vote, according to internal government documents obtained through a freedom of information request by legal advocacy group Democracy Forward. The documents reveal that ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division obtained over 48 million records from Heather Honey, a right-wing election activist who supported President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Honey now serves as a deputy assistant secretary for election integrity at the Department of Homeland Security.

According to the documents, Honey's records are being used as a 'strategic line of effort' to target alleged noncitizen voters. The documents also show that ICE is considering using data analysis tools normally employed for deportation investigations to identify potential cases, with internal emails discussing how to feed voter roll data into such systems.

Democracy Forward president Skye Perryman said the documents 'should concern all Americans' and represent 'an alarming attempt by the executive branch to undermine our elections'. The documents indicate ICE has investigated over 150 nonprofit groups in relation to the alleged noncitizen voter registration scheme.

How it is being reported

• ICE Emails Discuss Using Palantir-Supported Tool to Investigate Voter FraudDocuments obtained by Democracy Forward show that ICE looked into feeding voter roll data into the ELITE tool, normally used to identify targets for deportation.Wired · 8 Oct, 23:40
• ICE is investigating voter registration groups — and turning to election conspiracy theorists for helpNewly published internal documents reveal Trump administration is targeting nonprofits in massive voter fraud probeIndependent World · 7 Oct, 17:04

In this story: Immigration and Customs Enforcement · Heather Honey · Democracy Forward · Department of Homeland Security · Homeland Security Investigations

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