A federal judge ruled late Wednesday that Homeland Security agents’ practice of knocking on doors to ask people about their immigration status and voting history likely violates the Voting Rights Act, CBS News reported.
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ordered immigration authorities in nine states, including California and New York, to stop “elections-related field operations” likely to involve people officials know or should suspect are U.S. citizens. The order lasts until polls close on Election Day but is on hold until 5 p.m. Friday to allow an appeal.
The case was brought by groups including the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United. The judge said investigating illegal voting is lawful, but DHS may not go about it in a way that intimidates citizens who have a right to vote.
The administration says the operations are part of a crackdown on noncitizen voting.
Sources: CBS News, Arizona Mirror / States Newsroom. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from Washington, D.C. / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
