Trump-Ordered Citizenship Lists for Voting Are Likely Unreliable, Justice Dept. Says
The Justice Department acknowledged in court that citizenship lists ordered by President Trump for voter rolls are likely incomplete and unreliable, raising concerns about their use in purging voters. Democratic groups argue the executive order violates federal privacy laws and risks disrupting elections, while the DOJ insists the data is already government-held and not targeting noncitizens.
A Justice Department lawyer testified in federal court that citizenship lists compiled under President Trump’s March executive order are likely unreliable for determining voter eligibility. The admission came during a hearing challenging the order, which requires states to use federal data to create voter registries and directs the U.S. Postal Service to regulate mail-in voting. The DOJ’s senior counsel, Stephen M. Pezzi, stated no ‘responsible state’ should remove voters based solely on the lists, as they are inherently imperfect. The executive order, part of Trump’s broader effort to influence election mechanics, faces legal challenges from Democratic-led states and organizations. They argue the order is unconstitutional and violates privacy laws by using Social Security data and other federal records. Democratic lawyers warned the lists would be outdated and cause chaos, as people move or turn 18, while the DOJ insisted the data is merely being shared—not used to target noncitizens. Judge Carl J. Nichols warned the government against implementing the order without court approval and indicated a preliminary decision would follow. Texas previously used federal data to remove roughly 2,700 voters deemed ‘potential noncitizens,’ raising concerns about overzealous state actions. Democratic groups sued in April to block the order, citing its potential to disrupt ongoing primaries and disenfranchise voters. The DOJ argued the order only repurposes existing government data, but critics contend it stems from Trump’s failure to secure congressional approval for stricter voter ID laws. Lawyers for groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens claimed the order was designed to sow confusion and suppress turnout, with county officials potentially rejecting voters based on flawed federal lists.
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