PHOENIX, AZ – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended a sweeping bill Friday that would require voters to present proof of citizenship and photo identification, as the measure faces an uncertain path in the Senate. Speaking at a press conference in Phoenix, Noem championed the SAVE America Act, which mandates states require voters to provide a valid U.S. Passport or birth certificate when registering to vote.
The bill, passed by the House of Representatives this week, likewise requires voters to present a valid photo ID before casting a ballot – a requirement already in place in 37 of 50 states, according to state election laws. The legislation further imposes new rules for mail-in voting, demanding voters submit a copy of a valid ID with their ballot.
Noem asserted the bill would prevent non-citizens from voting, echoing a common Republican argument that gained traction during the 2024 elections. However, studies consistently demonstrate that voter fraud by non-citizens is exceedingly rare. A Brennan Center for Justice study found that only 0.0001% of 23.5 million votes cast in 42 jurisdictions in 2016 were potentially cast by non-citizens, with only two jurisdictions reporting possible cases. A Heritage Foundation analysis identified just 23 instances of non-citizen voting between 2003 and 2022.
The push for stricter voting rules comes as Noem visited Arizona to promote the SAVE Act, shifting the focus away from recent scrutiny over the administration’s immigration policies and a deadly federal operation in Minneapolis. Noem criticized Arizona’s existing election systems, calling them a “disaster” and claiming they have “failed” voters by not having “systems that perform” and “disenfranchising Americans.”
President Donald Trump has publicly backed Noem and the SAVE Act, offering his support on his Truth Social platform Friday, according to reports. This support comes amid reports that Trump has entertained calls to fire Noem and her top aide, Corey Lewandowski, due to discontent over their management of the Department of Homeland Security.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects are dim. It requires Democratic support to overcome a filibuster, and even some conservative senators have indicated they may oppose the measure. The Constitution grants states control over the administration of elections, and Republican efforts to impose stricter voting rules in Arizona were unsuccessful in 2024.
Noem met with President Trump in the Oval Office on Monday, alongside Lewandowski, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, sources confirmed. The meeting occurred as the administration faced fallout over federal agent operations in Minnesota and the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. White House officials distanced Trump from provocative claims made by Noem and others regarding the shooting, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating the president had not characterized Pretti as a “domestic terrorist.”
