Justice Department Sues California to Block Suspected Noncitizen Ballots

The United States Department of Justice sued California and a Los Angeles County official on October 15, 2026, to block the counting of mail-in ballots from approximately 20,000 suspected noncitizens. The lawsuit seeks a court order to segregate these ballots until citizenship status is verified, arguing that federal intervention is mandated by the supremacy clause to ensure election integrity.

The legal action followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued on October 13 by Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. The Justice Department provided Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive containing the names of suspected noncitizens, demanding that the state stop sending ballots to these individuals. Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan refused to access the device, citing cybersecurity protocols and noting that the password was provided on a sticky note.

California officials condemned the move as a desperate attempt to suppress voters. Governor Gavin Newsom called the lawsuit "more dangerous nonsense from a President losing his grip on reality," while Secretary of State Shirley Weber criticized the federal government for using unverifiable methodology. State officials also argued that the demand violates laws prohibiting voter roll changes within 90 days of an election.

This dispute is part of a broader Trump administration effort to purge noncitizens from voter rolls. While the administration has faced numerous court losses—including a recent ruling by Judge Sparkle Sooknanan that a federal voter data collection project was illegal—it continues to pressure states to implement stricter citizenship requirements.