Trump Administration Sues California Over Suspected Noncitizen Voters

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against California, alleging the state failed to adequately review a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens who may be registered to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. The suit, filed Thursday, comes after Justice Department officials gave state election officials a 48-hour ultimatum to examine the list.

Federal officials provided election authorities in California with a password-protected thumb drive containing the names of individuals suspected of being noncitizens who were sent mail-in ballots. Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter warned California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan that legal action would be taken if they did not comply with the review process in time. The suit asserts that the Department of Justice has an obligation to intervene to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections, where only U.S. citizens are permitted to cast ballots.

"This should not be controversial, as the criminal statute is clear: only American citizens may vote in federal elections. It is a federal crime for noncitizens to vote in US elections, and the DOJ is asking California to ensure that is not occurring," Justice Department officials stated.

Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan confirmed receipt of the letter and the thumb drive, along with the password. However, he noted that he did not consider the thumb drive a secure device and had not yet accessed its contents. Logan indicated that his office is collaborating with the secretary of state and attorney general's offices to determine the next steps.

The lawsuit, which also includes Attorney General Todd Blanche and LA's top federal prosecutor Bill Essayli, claims that California "made no serious effort" to identify noncitizens registered to vote. Trump administration officials have criticized California's voting procedures, asserting that the state's relaxed regulations facilitate fraud.

California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the lawsuit, describing it as a "desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day." Newsom argued that federal courts have previously determined the federal government has no authority over how states manage their election processes.

The lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about voter fraud and the participation of noncitizens in elections. Federal prosecutors have recently announced 16 new criminal cases related to alleged noncitizen voting or fraudulent registrations. Cases of alleged pay-for-votes and illegal migrants on voter rolls are also under investigation in Los Angeles.

"The United States thus sues California to ensure that only American citizens’ ballots are counted in the ongoing federal election," the suit concludes.