Trump's SOTU immigration claims, SAVE Act push, and fact-checks

Feb. 24 speech: Early immigration section – 'millions of illegal aliens poured across borders unvetted'; proposes SAVE Act.

Post-speech fact-checks: border encounters high but not all entries; non-citizen voting negligible according to studies.

Trump: prior admin allowed unchecked entry, non-citizens vote massively; fact-checks dispute the scale of these claims.

X trends 'ILLEGAL ALIENS'; polarizes debate over dehumanizing language versus border security concerns.

Our review of his speech found that he distorted a number of facts about the state of the economy, health care, immigration and other topics.

Trump falsely claimed that he inherited “a stagnant economy” with “inflation at record levels.”

He claimed legislation was needed “to stop illegal aliens” from voting, though evidence suggests that’s rare.

Trump made the dubious claim that the federal budget can be balanced by eliminating fraudulent spending.

We fact-checked President Donald Trump’s 108-minute State of the Union speech.

The speech included statements about the economy, immigration and gasoline prices.

Link to detailed fact-check: politifact.com/article/2026/feb/25/Donald-trump-state-union-green/

CBS News fact checked President Trump's 2026 State of the Union address… and also assessed a claim made by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

CBS News review found no evidence that total commitments or new investments approach the scale the president has cited.

Multiple studies have found that noncitizen voting in federal elections, which is illegal, is rare.

There are no states that have laws that allow them to 'rip' or take into custody minors and then give them access to gender transition surgeries, without parental input.

While Trump falsely claimed the tariffs led to “no inflation” and “tremendous growth”, he said Friday’s decision was “disappointing”.

Trump incorrectly said that these duties won’t require congressional oversight; however, these tariffs can only last 150 days without Congress.

The president bemoaned the supreme court’s ruling that Trump exceeded his presidential authority by implementing many global tariffs.

“They were ripping us so badly. You all know that. Everybody knows that, even the Democrats know it,” Trump said.

Trump pointed to Wall Street’s continued strength and strong job numbers, but glossed over the economy’s slower-than-expected growth in 2025.

While inflation has eased somewhat, it has not quite “plummeted” as Trump said.

He continually connected migration to higher crime rates, although studies have shown migrants commit crimes at a lower rate than US citizens.

Throughout the address, he repeatedly cast his political opponents as anti-American actors working against the nation’s best interests.

Republican lawmakers...are renewing a push to crack down on noncitizen voting in federal elections, reintroducing a bipartisan bill.

The bill requires states to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and identity in person when registering an individual to vote.

We must have concrete enforcement mechanisms...to ensure that our elections and our sovereignty cannot be hijacked and influenced by foreign nationals.

A vast majority of our countrymen agree: only American citizens should be able to register and vote in American elections.

Trump is calling on the House to pass the government funding deal without any changes, a blow to conservatives pushing to attach proof-of-citizenship voting rules.

Luna said she would be a “hard no” against any funding legislation and had enough votes to “shut down the floor of the House” unless the SAVE Act was included.

The SAVE Act has passed the House, but getting it through the Senate would be difficult given the 60-vote filibuster threshold and Republicans’ 53 seats.

Roy and Sen. Mike Lee launched the SAVE America Act, a “new and improved version” of the SAVE Act adding a voter ID requirement to proof-of-citizenship rules.

Dozens of Democrats boycotted President Trump's State of the Union to attend counter rallies in Washington, D.C.

They criticized the administration's handling of the economy, cuts to health care and aggressive immigration crackdown.

The post links to a live coverage page for broader context on Trump's State of the Union and Democratic response.

The SAVE America Act could not be more simple: American citizens decide American elections. Period.

House Republicans have already passed the SAVE Act — twice. Proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Now we will add valid ID to vote in federal elections.

Only citizens should vote in American elections. This is not controversial to anyone but Washington Democrats.

CBP is delivering results on every front!

In June: •25,228 total encounters nationwide •8,024 U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions nationwide

•6,072 southwest border apprehensions •136 apprehensions on June 28

•Zero parole releases