Two Ukrainian nationals are now in federal custody after allegedly casting illegal votes in the 2024 presidential election — a move that’s drawing attention due to a bold new effort by the Trump administration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrests on Tuesday, crediting the joint operation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a relatively new agency called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Originally created to reduce government waste, DOGE has recently expanded its focus to include immigration enforcement and election integrity.
“Under President Donald Trump, if you come to our country and break our laws, you will face the consequences,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She emphasized the administration’s commitment to cracking down on illegal voting and upholding the law.
DOGE, launched by executive order on January 20, came out of a collaboration between President Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. While its initial goal was to cut unnecessary spending and streamline government operations, the agency has grown into a powerful tool for federal oversight — even influencing decisions on contracts related to science, climate change, and diversity programs.
The arrests mark the first time DOGE’s internal data-sharing system directly led to a law enforcement action involving voter fraud. Trump has made election security a key priority in his second term, and this case is being held up as a major example of that agenda in action.
Trump and his allies have long accused Democrats of turning a blind eye to vulnerabilities in the election system. Since taking office in January, the former president has taken an aggressive approach to immigration, deporting over 139,000 people and deploying agents to sanctuary cities that resist cooperation with federal authorities.
The administration has even invoked the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act to fast-track deportations in cases involving national security, including recent efforts involving Venezuelan nationals.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk added more fuel to the fire during a recent appearance, where he discussed how DOGE is tracking government funding that flows from agencies to NGOs — and sometimes, allegedly, into political circles. Musk claimed there’s a “convoluted but very real” process where taxpayer money ends up in the hands of groups operating outside U.S. law.
“Basically, it’s a loophole,” Musk said. “The government sends money to organizations labeled ‘non-governmental,’ but they’re still funded by taxpayers — and that raises a lot of questions.”
This latest move underscores Trump’s drive to tighten borders, boost transparency, and restore trust in the voting process — all pillars of his 2024 campaign promises.