In JRE #2442 with comedian Ehsan Ahmad, Joe Rogan makes some bold assertions about U.S. immigration policy under the Democrats, claiming that millions of illegal immigrants were deliberately allowed in and relocated to swing states for political gain—essentially, to rig elections through voter fraud or demographic shifts. Joe Rogan has a rather conclusive perspective that is possibly drawn from his interviews with Shane Dorian (#2053), Bret Weinstein (#2075 & #2206), Elon Musk (#2197), Michael Shellenberger (#2211), Donald Trump (#2214), JD Vance (#2221), Mike Benz (#2237) John Fetterman (#2242), Rand Paul (#2249) With the exception of John Fetterman, these individuals are either republican or a politician contrarian and it is worth fact checking the claims that democrats have imported illegal immigrants into swing states for the purpose of political gain and altering election outcomes. Given that this topic undermines the core foundation of democracy and a key tenant of the free world, it warrants deep diving, fact checking, nuance, scrutinizing evidence and measured conclusions. Let’s unpack this.

Rogan’s Key Assertions

Around the 4:30-8:30 mark in the episode, Rogan dives into immigration, stating something along the lines of: “11 million illegal immigrants were allowed to get into this country over 4 years, aided and moved to swing states.” He suggests this was part of a strategic plan, with the government providing aid like EBT cards and flights to places like Michigan or Pennsylvania, implying an intent to boost Democratic votes. He ties this to recent ICE raids, painting a picture of a “catch and release” system designed for long-term electoral advantage. Rogan also mentions violent criminals among the migrants (thousands caught) and questions why the administration would enable such entries if not for political motives.

This isn’t isolated—Rogan references similar ideas in other episodes, and it’s amplified by guests like Mike Benz, who critiques government operations but doesn’t directly endorse the voter fraud angle. The underlying conspiracy? Democrats are “importing” voters to flip red states blue, either through immediate illegal voting or future naturalization.

The Facts: Immigration Numbers and Policies

First, let’s address the scale. Rogan cites 11 million illegal entries over four years. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows about 10.8 million encounters at the southern border from FY2021-2024 under the Biden administration. But here’s the nuance: “Encounters” aren’t the same as “entries.” This figure includes repeats (people turned away multiple times), expulsions under Title 42 (about 4 million), and asylum seekers who are legally processed. Net unauthorized migration is estimated at 2-3 million by groups like Pew Research and the Migration Policy Institute—not 11 million “allowed in.”

As for relocations to swing states? Programs like the CHNV parole (for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans) did fly in about 530,000 vetted migrants directly to U.S. airports from 2023-2024, bypassing the border. Flights went to 45 cities, with 36 cities in non swing states and 9 in swing states. Funded by FEMA (around $300 million), these were humanitarian efforts to reduce border chaos. The program was paused in July 2024 due to fraud in sponsor applications (about 100,000 fakes), but there’s zero evidence from DHS documents, whistleblowers, or audits that destinations were chosen for electoral reasons.

Could This Lead to Voter Fraud?

Rogan implies political gain through fraud, like non-citizens voting in elections. But U.S. voting safeguards make this implausible at scale. Federal law bans non-citizen voting (18 U.S.C. § 611), with penalties including prison and deportation. Voter registration requires citizenship affirmation, verified against SSA and DMV databases. States use tools like the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to purge duplicates and non-citizens.

Studies show non-citizen voting is rare: The Brennan Center found just 30 incidents in 23.5 million votes in 2016. The Heritage Foundation’s database logs about 85 convictions from 2002-2024. Post-2020 audits in swing states (e.g., Arizona’s Cyber Ninjas review found only 186 potential non-citizens in 3.4 million votes) confirm no widespread fraud. Even if millions were relocated (which they weren’t), they’d need fake IDs, undetected registration, and mass coordination—without triggering audits or prosecutions. It’s theoretically possible in isolated cases, but not enough to sway outcomes (e.g., Biden’s 20,000-vote margin in Wisconsin).

Mail-in ballots, often flagged as suspicious, aren’t inherently fraudulent either. Used by about 50% of voters in 2020, they have safeguards like signature matching and barcode tracking. Fraud rates are tiny (0.00006%), and claims of rigging were dismissed in over 60 lawsuits.

Nuance and Broader Context

To be fair, immigration policy under Biden did see record encounters, and critics argue lax enforcement encouraged crossings. Long-term, naturalized immigrants (after 5+ years) often lean Democratic (about 60%, per Pew), which could shift demographics—but that’s legal, not a “secret plot.” Figures like Mike Benz, mentioned in related discussions, focus on government censorship and “deep state” ops, but his work doesn’t provide evidence for immigrant voter fraud. His motivations seem rooted in anti-establishment views, amplified by alignments with Trump and Musk, but his claims rely more on patterns than hard data.

Rogan’s podcast style—raw, unfiltered conversation—sparks these debates, but it can amplify unverified narratives. As listeners, it’s crucial to fact-check, especially on divisive issues like this.

Wrapping Up

Joe Rogan’s assertions on Democrats “allowing in” millions of illegal immigrants for political gain don’t hold up. The numbers are inflated, relocations were logistical, and voter fraud links are nonexistent. That said, immigration remains a complex issue deserving thoughtful policy. What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribe to Podcheckr.com for more episode breakdowns. Stay skeptical, folks!

Sources:

•  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Nationwide Encounters Statistics
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters

•  U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – CHNV Parole Program Overview and Updates
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/01/05/dhs-announces-new-process-cubans-haitians-nicaraguans-and-venezuelans
(See also program pause announcement: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/07/31/dhs-announces-suspension-chnv-parole-processes)

•  Pew Research Center – Unauthorized Immigrant Population Estimates
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/

•  Migration Policy Institute – Border Encounters and Net Migration Analysis
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/biden-deportation-record

•  Brennan Center for Justice – Non-Citizen Voting: The Myth and the Reality
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/noncitizen-voting-missing-issue-2024-election

•  Heritage Foundation – Election Fraud Database
https://www.heritage.org/voterfraud

•  FactCheck.org – Fact-checking Claims About Migrants Being Flown to Swing States
https://www.factcheck.org/2024/10/posts-misrepresent-flights-of-migrants-into-u-s/

•  NPR – Examining Claims of Non-Citizen Voting and Immigration Policy
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/12/nx-s1-5147789/voting-noncitizens-local-elections-2024

•  U.S. Code – 18 U.S.C. § 611 (Non-Citizen Voting Prohibition)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/611

•  U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) – Election Security and Safeguards Overview
https://www.eac.gov/election-security