DOJ urges sanctions for database analysis critical of its noncitizen voting claims
Also reported by PBS NewsHour
Summary
The Justice Department defended its list of more than 20,000 people it alleges are noncitizens registered to vote in California. It asked a federal judge to consider contempt proceedings against an immigrant rights group and its lawyers after they published an analysis that found apparent errors in the list. The department also appealed a separate ruling that blocked it from directing election offices to remove suspected noncitizens from voter rolls or separate their ballots.Key Facts
- On Friday, Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg allowed the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) access to federal data on the 20,000 people, but barred the group from disclosing names and limited use of the data to arguments about legal standing.
- CHIRLA’s lawyers said their analysis found that more than 40% of the listed people did not appear in California’s voter file.
- The analysis identified 22 people who were likely naturalized U.S. citizens and said thousands more U.S. citizens also appeared to be on the list.
- The Justice Department argued that the analysis was unrelated to CHIRLA’s legal standing and violated Boasberg’s order; it suggested he refer the matter for investigation of possible criminal contempt.
- A UCLA Voting Rights Project spokesman said the plaintiffs’ lawyers and experts had fully complied with the court’s orders.
- On Sunday, the Justice Department appealed Judge Trina L. Thompson’s ruling barring it from demanding that election offices remove possible noncitizens from voter rolls, separate their ballots, or threaten legal action.
- Thompson scheduled a hearing on the appeal for Monday.
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