Senior Justice Department officials have directed federal prosecutors across the country to intensify efforts to pursue criminal cases against noncitizens accused of voting in U.S. elections, elevating a priority that has long been championed by President Donald Trump, reports the New York Times.

During an internal conference call on May 13 with dozens of prosecutors from regional offices, Aakash Singh, an associate deputy attorney general, expressed frustration that more than 90 investigations involving possible voting by noncitizens remained open without charges being filed, according to a person familiar with the discussion.

Singh told prosecutors the cases were languishing and urged them to move more aggressively toward bringing criminal charges, the person said.

According to the account of the meeting, Singh described the investigations as a top priority for Justice Department leadership and encouraged prosecutors to "get creative" in pursuing cases.

Singh also told prosecutors that the acting attorney general had made clear the importance of enforcing laws prohibiting noncitizens from voting in federal elections, according to the person familiar with the discussion.

The push reflects a broader focus by the Trump administration on election integrity and immigration enforcement. Trump has repeatedly argued that noncitizen voting poses a threat to the integrity of U.S. elections and has called for stronger enforcement measures.

Federal law generally prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections, and violations can carry criminal penalties. Convictions may also have immigration consequences, including deportation.

During the conference call, Singh emphasized that immigrants convicted of voting illegally should be removed from the country, according to the person familiar with the discussion.

The directive comes as the administration continues to prioritize immigration-related prosecutions and seeks to increase enforcement actions involving election offenses.

Voting experts and election administrators have long said instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare, and studies have found little evidence of widespread participation by noncitizens in U.S. elections."

Supporters of stronger enforcement argue that even isolated cases can undermine public confidence in elections and warrant aggressive prosecution.

Critics contend that heightened focus on a relatively uncommon offense risks diverting resources from more prevalent election-related crimes.

The Justice Department's renewed emphasis could result in increased scrutiny of existing investigations and greater pressure on prosecutors to seek charges in cases that have remained unresolved.

The more than 90 investigations cited during the May conference call remain at various stages, and it was not immediately clear how many could ultimately result in criminal prosecutions.

The Justice Department has not publicly announced a new policy regarding noncitizen voting cases, but the internal directive signals that such investigations have become a significant priority for department leadership.