The Department of Justice's Civil Rights division will pursue every provable case of illegal voting, employing a "broken windows" enforcement strategy, according to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. This approach marks a significant shift from prior administrations, which often declined to prosecute cases unless they involved widespread fraud or affected election outcomes.
Dhillon told Fox News Digital that the department is committed to investigating every credible lead and prosecuting cases supported by evidence. This intensified scrutiny follows revelations that thousands of noncitizens were registered to vote in New Jersey, primarily through the motor-voter system.
"What’s different, first of all, is the people in charge — and ‘people are policy,’" Dhillon stated, addressing why alleged election-related wrongdoing rarely resulted in convictions under previous DOJ leadership. She emphasized that while past administrations may have considered only election-altering misconduct worthy of federal action, her department's stance is different.
Dhillon explained that her prosecution philosophy aligns with the "broken windows" strategy, which focuses on enforcing minor offenses to deter more serious crimes. "We need to go after every single one of these violations," she said, adding that the DOJ is actively pursuing leads provided by activists and local officials. However, she stressed that charges will only be brought when the evidence is "100% correct."
When noncitizens are found to have voted illegally, Dhillon suggested that penalties could include barring them from future naturalization. She speculated that the figures from New Jersey, where an estimated 400 noncitizens were found on voter rolls, could be significantly higher in other states, particularly California, which she described as having a "sloppy mess" in its election systems.
Dhillon indicated that the New Jersey situation highlights the need for other states to cooperate with the federal government and share electronic voter data. She attributed the national problem to automatic registration policies combined with a high number of noncitizens entering the country. The DOJ has deployed election monitors to key counties in Arizona during recent primaries and confirmed plans to deploy federally trained monitors to several jurisdictions nationwide.
The department has also filed an additional pleading in an ongoing lawsuit against New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell regarding the necessity of turning over voter data. Dhillon noted that most states' 90-day windows for updating voter rolls are closing, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
In Trenton, state Senate Oversight Committee member Joe Pennacchio has called on the DOJ to investigate not only the voter rolls but also the entire motor-voter framework. The French vendor providing the system's technology has pushed back on these claims, stating the issues lie with the Department of State, not their systems.
Dhillon suggested that these additional demands widen the scope of the investigation but expressed confidence that the DOJ will "get to the bottom of it for sure."