Trump administration cites suspected illegal voting, while California officials warn that thousands of eligible voters could be affected
by El Reportero staff
California is challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to set aside up to 20,000 ballots belonging to registered voters suspected of being noncitizens, setting up a legal confrontation over election integrity and voting rights ahead of the November midterm elections.
Attorney General Rob Bonta called the federal lawsuit an effort that “borders on the absurd,” arguing that the government has not presented sufficient evidence to justify its demands.
“At best, this litigation is a reckless political stunt,” Bonta wrote in a court filing. “At worst, it threatens to disenfranchise thousands of Californians this election.”
Federal prosecutors, however, maintain that their investigation has uncovered legitimate concerns about noncitizens participating in elections.
The Justice Department recently announced criminal charges against 28 California green card holders accused of illegally registering to vote or casting ballots. Prosecutors say 22 voted in at least one election, while others allegedly registered or submitted a provisional ballot.
Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Trent McCotter said investigators identified approximately 20,000 possible noncitizens by comparing California voter registration records with government databases and other information.
“There may be some names on there who it turns out ultimately are citizens,” McCotter acknowledged. “We’re not perfect, and that’s why we’ve asked California to cooperate with us.”
Federal officials argue that potentially unlawful votes could undermine election integrity and that state authorities should cooperate in determining voters’ eligibility.
California officials dispute the reliability of the federal government’s list, noting that some individuals identified as possible noncitizens may actually be American citizens.
Bonta also questioned earlier federal claims suggesting that California had as many as 190,000 noncitizens registered to vote, saying authorities failed to provide adequate documentation supporting that estimate.
Los Angeles County election officials reported that a preliminary review of 200 names from the federal list suggested many were citizens and most had neither voted nor received ballots.
The dispute has also raised questions about how noncitizens become registered voters.
Some of those charged told reporters they did not realize they were prohibited from voting or did not remember registering.
Kamlesh Shah, a 68-year-old immigrant from India, reportedly acknowledged voting in the 2024 presidential election but said he believed he was eligible because he had applied for citizenship.
Legal experts emphasize that criminal responsibility depends on the specific offense and whether prosecutors can establish the required intent.
Bonta noted that the 28 defendants represent an extremely small percentage of California’s approximately 23 million registered voters. Nevertheless, the number of criminal charges alone cannot establish the full extent of possible registration irregularities.
The controversy now centers on whether federal authorities have sufficient evidence and legal authority to require California to segregate thousands of ballots while voting is underway.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said credible allegations of election fraud deserve investigation but criticized the timing of the federal intervention.
Federal prosecutors insist that protecting legitimate votes requires identifying and addressing potentially unlawful participation.
The court must now weigh those competing concerns: preventing illegal voting while ensuring eligible citizens are not denied their constitutional rights.
Sources: CalMatters; federal court proceedings. This article has been independently condensed and rewritten for the printed edition of El Reportero, based on original reporting by Ryan Sabalow.
