A Census Bureau brief released Tuesday claimed 24,000 noncitizens voted in 2020 from a preliminary match of 128 million records, adding to a summer push by the Trump administration on election fraud allegations.
That release followed a July DHS analysis asserting 278,000 noncitizens are registered to vote, but neither document disclosed methodology, and voting experts said the underlying tools are known to be unreliable.
The data drops came after Trump’s July TV address reviving false 2020 election claims and warning of foreign manipulation, rhetoric allies including Steve Bannon said could help justify a national security emergency before the midterms.
Election lawyers and advocacy groups say the administration is trying to build a legal predicate to federalize or intimidate election administration, though they argue any emergency declaration would still face constitutional limits and court challenges.