Federal judge halts DHS door-to-door voter inquiries in nine states
U. S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín ordered the Department of Homeland Security to cease its door-to-door inquiries about immigration status and voting in nine states on 22 October, finding the practice likely violates the Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department had earlier sent letters to California officials demanding a review of a list of alleged noncitizen voters and the segregation of their mail ballots, then gave the state 48 hours to verify the citizenship of those flagged.
It subsequently sued California, seeking an injunction to stop counting roughly 20,000 mail ballots it said belonged to likely noncitizens, and warned county officials they could face criminal liability for processing such ballots. Federal prosecutors later charged 28 lawful permanent residents with illegal voting and fraudulent registration as part of a nationwide operation, and Homeland Security agents conducted door-to-door status checks in several states. Los Angeles County officials later said the DOJ’s list was unreliable because many listed individuals were born in the United States.
