The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken action to address concerns about noncitizen voting in California by sending letters to election officials across the state. This move, which affects 57 out of California’s 58 counties, indicates a significant ramp-up in federal efforts to prevent suspected noncitizens from participating in elections.
Among the counties receiving these letters was San Bernardino County, where the Registrar of Voters, Joani Finwall, was contacted by the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. The letter, signed by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli, included a list of 1,133 individuals identified as “likely aliens.”
“Within 48 hours, we ask that you commit to working with DOJ and DHS to identify who on the accompanying list is a citizen and who is not,” stated Essayli. He emphasized the legal risks involved in continuing to send mail-in ballots to individuals whose citizenship status remains uncertain. Moreover, for those whose status cannot be confirmed, Essayli instructed officials to segregate but not cancel their ballots until further verification is achieved.
“The legal consequences for either facilitating or ignoring federal crimes are significant,” Essayli warned. He reiterated that voting in federal elections without citizenship is a federal offense, and allowing such actions could expose election officials to legal repercussions. “Any election official who knowingly processes the ballot of a noncitizen is opening themselves to legal jeopardy,” he added.
This proactive stance aligns with the Trump administration’s broader mandate to scrutinize voter rolls, particularly in states like California that lean heavily Democratic. Recently, the administration has engaged in legal actions aimed at preventing the counting of over 20,000 mail-in ballots from individuals it suspects may not be U.S. citizens.
In response to these developments, California Senator Alex Padilla expressed concern about the DOJ’s claims of widespread voter fraud, asserting that no substantial evidence supports such assertions. “Trump’s DOJ has not provided any evidence for their claims of massive voter fraud,” Padilla remarked. He criticized the administration for relying on data that has been acknowledged as inaccurate and urged election officials not to succumb to intimidation tactics.
This initiative reflects the Trump’s administration’s ongoing focus on voter integrity issues as the midterm elections approach, highlighting the continuing debate over election security and access across the nation.
