DHS Cracks Down on Alleged Non-Citizen Voters
The Department of Homeland Security says its effort to find alleged non-citizen voters has been successful ahead of the midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Immigration
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Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival says the agency has been successful in its crackdown on alleged non-citizen voting ahead of the midterms. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday rejected the administration's request that California separate ballots from around 20,000 people the government alleges are non-citizens.
Why it matters
The dispute reflects a broader federal push over voter eligibility as the midterm elections approach, with the court ruling limiting the administration's ability to act on its allegations in California. The ruling leaves the government's claims about the individuals involved unresolved in court.
The administration asked California to separate ballots from around 20,000 people it alleges are non-citizens, a request the Ninth Circuit rejected on Friday. The government's underlying allegation about those individuals has not been independently verified in the available record.
The players
Department of Homeland Security
The federal department responsible for border security, immigration enforcement and related functions, which is leading the crackdown on alleged non-citizen voting.
James Percival
The Department of Homeland Security's General Counsel, who publicly described the agency's crackdown as successful in an interview on Fox's "My View with Lara Trump."
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
The federal appellate court covering California and other western states, which rejected the administration's request regarding the ballots.
The details
Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival, speaking on Fox's "My View with Lara Trump," said the agency has been successful so far in its crackdown on alleged non-citizen voting in U.S. elections. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the administration's request to force California to separate ballots from around 20,000 people.
Timeline
Friday: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejects the administration's California ballot-separation request.
Tuesday: Midterm elections take place.
Political Context
Opponents of federal ballot-review efforts have argued that such actions risk disenfranchising eligible voters. The Ninth Circuit's refusal to allow ballot separation reflects judicial caution about enforcement measures ahead of an election.
Voters in California and across the country may encounter heightened scrutiny of voter rolls ahead of the midterms. The Ninth Circuit's ruling means the requested ballot separation will not proceed for now.
The takeaway
Election integrity claims and voting-rights protections are both being tested in court as the midterms approach, so readers should follow subsequent rulings for clarity.
Further reading
For more background on the federal government's approach to immigration enforcement, see Immigration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 930 WFMD Free Talk.
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