Two Ukrainian Nationals Detained for Illegally Voting in 2024 Election, DHS Confirms
In a major development highlighting the Trump administration’s renewed focus on election integrity, two Ukrainian nationals have been detained for illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The arrests mark a milestone for one of the administration’s most aggressive new initiatives—the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an agency launched by President Trump to combat government waste and now operating in tandem with immigration and election enforcement bodies.
“Under President Donald Trump, if you come to our country and break our laws, you will face the consequences,” tweeted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “In partnership with @DOGE, @ICEgov arrested two Ukrainian nationals for illegally VOTING in the 2024 election.”
DOGE’s Expanding Role in Federal Oversight
Established by executive order on January 20, DOGE was born from strategic discussions between President Trump and Elon Musk. Initially conceived as a cost-cutting agency, it has since expanded to include oversight of immigration enforcement, election law compliance, and federal research expenditures.
DOGE operatives—embedded across several agencies—now hold authority to reject federal contracts, particularly those tied to climate science, diversity and inclusion, and other initiatives flagged as inefficient. Tuesday’s arrests represent the first documented instance in which DOGE’s internal data sharing directly resulted in the apprehension of individuals accused of voter fraud.
Trump’s Second-Term Priorities: Border, Bureaucracy, Ballots
The detentions come amid a broader push by President Trump to deliver on core campaign promises: tightening border security, slashing bureaucratic waste, and safeguarding election integrity.
Since resuming office in January 2025, the Trump administration has deported more than 139,000 individuals and enacted a series of executive orders targeting sanctuary cities, including a measure that publicly names municipal leaders who obstruct federal immigration operations.
Meanwhile, military deployments have supported federal agents in cities resistant to cooperating with ICE, reflecting a harder edge in Trump’s law-and-order agenda.
The administration has also leaned on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely invoked statute, to accelerate the removal of individuals deemed national security threats—most notably, Venezuelan migrants tied to criminal networks.
A Partisan Flashpoint
Supporters of the President have hailed the arrests and broader enforcement measures as proof of a government finally prioritizing national security and voter integrity. Critics, however, have raised civil liberties concerns and accused the administration of politicizing enforcement for electoral gain.
Regardless of the political response, Tuesday’s arrests underscore a significant shift in federal operations—one in which agencies like DOGE play an increasingly central role in inter-agency enforcement, data coordination, and oversight of democratic processes.
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