WASHINGTON, D.C. February 14, 2026 – U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a strong statement on Saturday in support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, claiming that opposition to the legislation stems from a desire to permit non-citizens, including illegal immigrants, to participate in U.S. elections.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) from her official account @Sec_Noem, Secretary Noem wrote:
“There’s only one reason that anyone would oppose the common sense election integrity efforts found in the SAVE Act: they want to cheat by allowing illegal aliens to vote.
With President Trump at the helm, we’re fighting to ensure this cheating doesn’t happen. Our elections must be secure, fair, and decided by American Citizens.”
The post, shared on February 14, 2026, included a short video clip (approximately 58 seconds long) and quickly garnered significant engagement, with thousands of likes, reposts, and replies within hours.
The SAVE Act is a Republican-backed measure that seeks to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. Supporters argue it is essential to prevent non-citizen voting and restore public confidence in the electoral process. Critics, including many Democrats and voting rights organizations, contend that non-citizen voting is already extremely rare under existing laws, and that the bill could create unnecessary barriers for eligible American citizens—particularly those who lack easy access to specific citizenship documents such as passports or birth certificates.
Secretary Noem, who serves in President Donald Trump’s administration, framed the issue as a direct effort to protect the integrity of American democracy under the current leadership.
The statement drew polarized reactions online. Supporters echoed the message, with some replying that “Democrats can’t win if they don’t cheat” or affirming that “standing against voter ID is standing for cheating.” Opponents accused the administration of promoting baseless claims of widespread fraud, suppressing turnout among certain voter groups, or attempting to undermine democratic participation. Several replies referenced unrelated controversies, including calls related to the Epstein files or accusations of authoritarian tendencies.
Noem’s post reflects ongoing tensions over election rules in the early months of the second Trump presidency, with immigration enforcement and voting procedures remaining high-profile priorities for the administration.
The SAVE Act has previously passed the House in earlier Congresses but faced challenges in the Senate. Its prospects in the current session remain a subject of active debate on Capitol Hill.
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