US News
Federal judge halts DHS probes of noncitizen voters in nine states
The judge said the investigations likely violate Voting Rights Act protections against intimidation, and the order takes effect Friday pending appeal.
The short version
- A US federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to halt pre-election operations seeking noncitizen voters in nine states.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- The judge said the investigations likely violate the Voting Rights Act's ban on voter intimidation and may rely on flawed data.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- DHS maintains that the efforts aim to remove noncitizens who vote and dilute the votes of US citizens.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- The order is set to take effect Friday and remain in place through election night, and the federal government may appeal.[Associated Press · NPR]
Key facts
- A US federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to halt pre-election operations aimed at finding non-citizen voters in nine states.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- The ruling applies to federal efforts targeting California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- US District Court Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin stated the investigations likely violate the Voting Rights Act prohibition on voter intimidation and may have relied on flawed data.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- The DHS maintained in a statement that its investigations were aimed at removing aliens who vote and dilute the votes of US citizens.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- The judge put her Wednesday ruling on hold until Friday to allow the administration time to appeal, with the restrictions set to remain in effect through election night.[Associated Press · NPR]
What remains uncertain
- The judge's findings on likely Voting Rights Act violations and flawed data are described as likely rather than final, and the federal government could appeal the order.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
- DHS says its operations target people who illegally vote, while the court found the data supporting them likely flawed; the reporting does not resolve this dispute.[Al Jazeera · NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- US judge blocks federal operations seeking to identify non-citizen votersAl Jazeera
- Federal judge restricts DHS field operations looking for noncitizen votersNPR - Top News
- Federal judge orders Trump administration to halt noncitizen voting investigation in 9 statesAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press