DHS Sec. Mullin threatens to ‘hunt down’ noncitizen voters in Election Day message

As Americans cast their ballots on Election Day, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a sweeping threat to track down and prosecute those who “vote illegally.”

“If you vote illegally in this country, and you are NOT eligible to vote, [the Department of Homeland Security] will find you, hunt you down, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Mullin wrote in a social media post. “Only American citizens should be deciding American elections.”

Illegal voting is exceedingly rare, and noncitizens have never decided the outcome of an American election.

Despite that, Mullin recently claimed that his agency is investigating 300,000 cases of illegal voting. He has also previously threatened state election officials with criminal prosecution for refusing to aid the Trump administration in its hunt for noncitizens registered to vote by handing over their states’ voter rolls.

Last month, a top federal prosecutor in Texas delivered a similar message in a menacing video that addressed voters and local election officials.

“If you violate federal election law, I will hunt you down and prosecute you,” U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said, before adding, “Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. We’ll see you out at the polls.”

Reitz also threatened “crooked local election administrators.”

“They have a duty to prevent illegal voting, and I’m here to make sure they do their job,” he said.