In an internal memo reviewed by the Guardian, officials confirmed that all personnel in the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) have been shifted full-time to two 'high-priority' initiatives: vetting South African refugees and rooting out supposedly illegal voters. The reassignment leaves USCIS without officers to train asylum officers in the near future, potentially worsening a backlog that has already drawn criticism from immigration advocates.
The White House has made election integrity a central theme of the midterm campaign, with President Donald Trump alleging widespread voter fraud despite no evidence of significant irregularities in previous elections. The FDNS officers are now tasked with cross-referencing voter rolls with immigration databases, a move critics describe as a voter suppression tactic aimed at immigrant communities.
The South African refugee screening comes amid diplomatic tensions between the Trump administration and Pretoria. The U.S. has offered asylum to white South African farmers claiming persecution, a policy the South African government has condemned as racially motivated.
USCIS did not respond to requests for comment by press time. Current and former agency officials told the Guardian that the FDNS unit is essential for identifying fraudulent marriage, employment, and asylum applications. One former officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'Fraud detection is the first line of defense against abuse of the immigration system. Stripping that unit to chase voter theories is like defunding your police force to hire bounty hunters.'
The reassignment comes as some Western states see a surge in independent candidates challenging both Republicans and Democrats, with many incumbents eschewing party labels. In South Dakota and Alaska, independents are gaining traction by focusing on local issues like rancher rights and resource management, a trend that could reshape the political landscape.