A humanitarian organization in northeastern Mexico, Resource Center Matamoros, denied creating flyers urging migrants to vote for President Joe Biden that were found at its shelter in a viral video. The flyers, written in Spanish, instructed migrants to vote illegally for Biden once they arrived in the U.S. Although the flyers had the organization’s logo, the origin of the flyers was unknown, and errors in spelling and grammar suggested they may have been translated using online software. The organization’s founder, Gaby Zavala, stated that her group does not encourage immigrants to register to vote or cast ballots in the U.S.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the flyers’ origin, unverified claims about them spread rapidly online and were brought up during a congressional hearing where House Republicans questioned Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The episode highlights how claims related to the migrant surge at the border can quickly influence the political debate, with former President Donald Trump and his allies suggesting, without evidence, that Democrats are allowing migrants into the country to boost Biden’s re-election chances. It is important to note that only U.S. citizens are permitted to vote in federal elections, and instances of noncitizens attempting to cast illegal ballots are extremely rare.
Images and videos of the flyers at the Matamoros center surfaced online after the Heritage Foundation shared them on social media. The conservative think tank alleged that the flyers aimed to encourage migrants to vote illegally for Biden. Heritage also shared an audio clip of Zavala having a conversation where voting was mentioned, but Zavala clarified that her organization does not support political campaigns for or against candidates. The Heritage Foundation did not respond to requests for comment, and the origin of the video and the flyers remained unclear.
Claims that Resource Center Matamoros was behind the flyers were widely circulated online, resulting in threats against the organization’s founder and members. Pro-Trump websites called for violent actions against them. Partisan researchers delved into the group’s background, linking them to various U.S. and left-wing causes. The flyers briefly mentioned HIAS, a Jewish humanitarian organization, but HIAS denied any involvement with the flyers and denounced the misinformation being spread. Republican lawmakers raised the issue of the flyers during a congressional hearing with Mayorkas, accusing him of aiding NGOs to manipulate elections.
The claims surrounding the flyers gained traction online as Trump and other Republicans assert that the surge of migrants at the border increases the risk of noncitizens voting illegally. While there have been isolated cases of noncitizens casting ballots, states have confirmed that the incidence is exceptionally rare. Various studies have shown that noncitizens voting in federal elections is not a widespread issue. The Associated Press has received support from private foundations to enhance its coverage of elections and democracy, with a focus on providing accurate and informative reporting on these important topics.
