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Politics · October 14, 2026

DoJ threatens California over alleged noncitizen voting as Trump tries to rally support for Republicans – US politics live

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to California election officials, demanding they review a list of individuals the federal government believes may be noncitizens who were sent mail-in ballots. Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter sent the demand letters along with a password-protected thumb drive containing names of suspected noncitizens to Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County officials. The DOJ requested that ballots for these individuals be segregated and not counted until citizenship is verified. California officials, including Los Angeles Registrar Dean Logan, have declined to access the thumb drive, citing data security protocols and asserting that the DOJ's demands lack legal authority and interfere with established voter registration procedures just weeks before the election.

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Reported across the spectrum

  • The DOJ sent letters to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and L.A. County Registrar Dean Logan demanding a citizenship review of specific individuals.
  • The DOJ provided a list of suspected noncitizens on a password-protected thumb drive.
  • Officials were given a 48-hour deadline to comply before the DOJ would seek 'emergency relief.'
  • The DOJ requested that ballots from flagged individuals be segregated, not canceled, until citizenship is confirmed.
  • L.A. County Registrar Dean Logan stated his office has not accessed the drive due to security protocols.

Reported by only some outlets

  • A DOJ official claimed 'thousands' of possible noncitizens were identified across California.
  • The DOJ has lost 26 of 31 lawsuits aimed at forcing states to hand over unredacted voter rolls.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin previously informed California in July of likely noncitizens on voter rolls.
  • Reuters reported that software glitches may have added roughly 30,000 self-declared noncitizens to rolls nationwide since 2000.
  • Recent subpoenas for election records have also been sent to Georgia, Connecticut, Nevada, and Washington state.

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