DOGE Helps Arrest Two Ukrainian Nationals for Alleged Illegal Voting in 2024 Election

Federal authorities have arrested two Ukrainian nationals accused of illegally voting in the 2024 U.S. presidential election—marking the first publicly acknowledged enforcement action involving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The arrests were carried out in a joint operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DOGE, a relatively new federal agency created by executive order in January 2025 during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Pexels

Announcing the arrests on social media, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared:

“UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU COME TO OUR COUNTRY AND BREAK OUR LAWS, YOU WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.”

Initially established to reduce bureaucratic inefficiency and cut federal spending, DOGE has since expanded its mandate. The agency now plays an active role in immigration enforcement and election integrity—two of the Trump administration’s key policy areas.

The incident has reignited national debates over immigration enforcement and voter fraud, with the White House portraying the arrests as a major success for DOGE. The agency’s increasing involvement in matters traditionally handled by older departments signals its growing influence in federal oversight.

In his second term, President Trump has made border security and election monitoring top priorities. His administration reports deporting over 139,000 individuals using aggressive tactics, including deploying federal troops to sanctuary cities and invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

DOGE has also taken on broader investigative responsibilities. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk—widely credited with influencing the agency’s formation—has called for heightened scrutiny of public officials’ finances and tighter oversight of taxpayer-funded programs. He has raised concerns about federal funds being directed to NGOs that lack full transparency.

“THERE’S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CORRUPTION, BUT IT’S CIRCUITOUS,” Musk stated, emphasizing DOGE’s role in uncovering and curbing misuse of public resources.

As political tensions remain high, the case is likely to intensify ongoing discussions around immigration policy, election security, and the evolving function of watchdog agencies like DOGE in promoting government accountability.