Payam Javan: Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) has introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act in the lower chamber of Congress, aiming to prevent illegal immigrants from voting in federal elections.

The bill, supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), seeks to strengthen voter registration safeguards by demanding documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration applications. At a press conference, proponents argued that recent campus protests highlight the potential for noncitizens to disrupt elections.

The bill also outlines acceptable documents for citizenship verification and requires ongoing efforts by states to ensure only citizens are registered to vote. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) plans to introduce a similar bill in the Senate. Critics argue that existing federal law already prohibits illegal immigrant voting, but proponents highlight the lack of mechanisms to verify citizenship under current laws. The bill’s fate in Congress remains uncertain, with its passage likely in the House but facing challenges in the Democrat-controlled Senate.