Members of Congress from both the Republican and Democratic parties are joining forces to reintroduce legislation aimed at preventing non-citizens from voting in federal elections. This bipartisan effort, spearheaded by Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), revives the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill previously passed by the House but stalled in the then Democrat-controlled Senate.

The SAVE Act mandates that states require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and identity in person during voter registration. It also compels states to implement programs for removing non-citizens from voter rolls and empowers citizens to take legal action against officials who fail to enforce the law.

Although current law restricts voting in federal elections to citizens, proponents of the bill argue that enforcement is challenging due to some states issuing driver’s licenses and other benefits to non-citizens and illegal immigrants, potentially leading to their registration. This renewed push for the SAVE Act follows a period of increased migration and reports from various states identifying thousands of non-citizens on their voter rolls.

With Republicans now holding a majority in the Senate and the upcoming Trump presidency, the bill's prospects have improved, as the President-elect has expressed support for legislation preventing non-citizen voting.

Representative Roy emphasized the importance of public trust in elections, stating, "American elections belong to American citizens, and the public's confidence in those elections is the cornerstone of our republic." He stressed the need for robust enforcement mechanisms to prevent foreign nationals from influencing U.S. elections. Senator Lee echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of election integrity for democratic institutions.

Representative Garbarino (R-NY), a co-sponsor of the bill, criticized New York City's policy of allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections. He argued that the SAVE Act safeguards election integrity by reserving the right to vote exclusively for American citizens.

The SAVE Act has garnered support from various groups, including the Only Citizens Vote Coalition, Tea Party Patriots Action, and the Immigration Accountability Project, and currently has 59 co-sponsors in the House. The bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate next week.

This renewed effort to pass the SAVE Act coincides with the House's recent passage of the Laken Riley Act, which focuses on detaining illegal immigrants convicted of theft-related crimes and allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for damages caused by illegal immigration. These legislative actions signal that immigration-related issues will likely be a central focus for Congress.