Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an extensive investigation targeting over 100 individuals suspected of illegally voting as noncitizens in the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.
Authorities allege that these suspects cast more than 200 ballots across multiple Texas counties.
“Illegal aliens and foreign nationals must not be allowed to influence Texas elections by casting illegal ballots with impunity. I will not allow it to continue,” Paxton declared in a statement on Tuesday.
“Thanks to President Trump’s decisive action to help states safeguard the ballot box, this investigation will help Texas hold noncitizens accountable for unlawfully voting in American elections.”
While most suspected activity has been identified in Harris County, ongoing reviews include Guadalupe, Cameron and Eastland counties.
The probe relies on data supplied by the Texas Secretary of State, which gained access to the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database.
Managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), SAVE verifies immigration and citizenship status, providing a new tool for state election officials.
This investigation follows President Donald Trump’s March executive order that opened SAVE database access to all states at no cost, strengthening election integrity efforts nationwide, according to the Texas Tribune.
The directive enables states to cross-check voter registrations against citizenship records, an authority Paxton has utilized to broaden his enforcement capabilities.
Recent developments include the Texas Secretary of State referring 33 individuals to Paxton’s office for allegedly voting illegally in the November 2024 election, flagged via the SAVE system.
Paxton’s office stresses the system’s critical role in uncovering illegal voting.
“If you’re a noncitizen who illegally cast a ballot, you will face the full force of the law,” Paxton warned.
Although laws across Texas and the United States clearly prohibit noncitizens from voting, confirmed instances of such illegal participation remain relatively rare, according to the outlet.
Election officials and independent studies indicate that widespread noncitizen voting is uncommon.
Nevertheless, Republican leaders, including Paxton, maintain that even a small number of illegal votes threatens the integrity of elections and public trust in the democratic process.
Paxton and his supporters argue that election laws must be strictly enforced and that every unlawful ballot should be identified and removed to ensure fairness and prevent any potential impact on election outcomes.
The issue has gained increased attention ahead of a November vote on a Texas constitutional amendment that would explicitly affirm that only U.S. citizens may vote—a standard already enforced under existing state and federal laws.
Advocates argue the measure would strengthen protections against electoral abuse and bolster public confidence.
The timing of the investigation also carries political weight, as Paxton is actively campaigning to unseat U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary.
Meanwhile, other states—including New Hampshire, Louisiana, and Wyoming—have recently passed laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote.
Texas lawmakers introduced a similar bill this year, but it failed to advance during the legislative session.
Paxton’s office has committed to prosecuting every verified instance of illegal voting.
Officials emphasize that current investigations are part of a larger statewide effort to protect election integrity by leveraging the SAVE system’s new accessibility.
