Judge curbs DHS door-knocking on suspected noncitizen voters in nine states

A federal judge on Wednesday limited the Trump administration's hunt for noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally, less than two weeks before the midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín ordered the Department of Homeland Security to halt election-related field operations and interviews in nine states when officials know or should reasonably suspect the people involved are U.S. citizens. The order covers California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin and remains in effect until polls close on Election Day.

According to CBS News, agents from Homeland Security Investigations had knocked on doors to ask people about their immigration status and recent voting. The judge found the practice likely violates the Voting Rights Act, which bars efforts to intimidate people who help others vote. At the core of the ruling was the data: the target lists drew on government and commercial records that are known to include U.S. citizens. The public interest in elections "free from interference or intimidation" outweighs the government's interest in combating unlawful noncitizen voting, she wrote.

The lawsuit was brought by unions and advocacy groups, including the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United, represented by Protect Democracy. Beau Tremitiere, a lawyer for the group, said DHS "built its lists on bad data." The administration describes the effort as a crackdown on voter fraud; the Justice Department says 156 people have been charged with related offenses since Trump took office. Critics say the visits could deter eligible voters. DHS did not immediately comment. The order takes effect Friday afternoon to give the government time to appeal.