ICE Explored Palantir-Supported ELITE Tool for Voter Fraud Investigations, Documents Reveal
Documents acquired by Democracy Forward indicate that the Department of Homeland Security contemplated utilizing a tool supported by Palantir to monitor individuals suspected of illegal voting. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plays a pivotal role in federal investigations into voter fraud, with its Innovation Lab (iLab) creating tools that focus on DOJ voting rolls and USCIS data, omitting criminal records. An email dated May 26 highlighted efforts to merge processed voter roll data into the ELITE system, enabling ICE agents to identify potential deportation targets. A subsequent email on July 7 provided updates on election integrity probes in Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan, and New Mexico. DHS has scrutinized over 150 nonprofits for assisting noncitizen voter registration, while the Justice Department has filed charges in 16 cases involving lawful permanent residents.
Key facts
- Documents obtained via FOIA and published by Democracy Forward show DHS explored using a Palantir-supported tool to track suspected illegal voters
- ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and its iLab are spearheading federal voter fraud investigations
- A May 26 email with "Voter Fraud" in the subject line described ingesting processed voter roll data into the ELITE enforcement system
- ELITE stands for Enhanced Leads Identification & Targeting for Enforcement and was first reported by 404 Media in January
- A Palantir spokesman said voter roll data has never been integrated into ELITE
- A July 7 email attachment named "Fraud WAR" said Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan, and New Mexico were enriched by iLab and pending Palantir entry into ELITE
- DHS has investigated over 150 nonprofit groups for allegedly helping noncitizens register to vote
- The Justice Department announced charges in 16 cases involving foreign nationals, all lawful permanent residents
Entities
Artists
- Chinmayi Sharma
- Markwayne Mullin
Institutions
- Department of Homeland Security
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Palantir
- Democracy Forward
- Fordham Law School
- WIRED
- 404 Media
- Department of Justice
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services
- White House
Locations
- Connecticut
- United States
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Michigan
- New Mexico