Whistleblower Alleges DHS Employees Misled to Access State Voter Data

<p>Department of Homeland Security employees were allegedly instructed to access state voter databases in ways that a whistleblower claims violate state law, according to a report released by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).</p><p><strong>Background: </strong> The report details a protected whistleblower disclosure that outlines serious allegations of illegal and inappropriate activities within the DHS' Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.</p><ul><li>According to the report, employees were asked to access sensitive voter information in state databases for individuals flagged by DHS as potential "unlawful voters."</li><li>The whistleblower indicated that this process could lead to errors involving naturalized U.S. citizens, which may result in secondary customs screenings at airports or criminal referrals to Homeland Security Investigations.</li></ul><p><strong>Details: </strong> Some states, including Virginia and Florida, require users accessing the databases to legally confirm their identity as the voter or an authorized representative. The report suggests that federal officers may be making false statements to access these private records.</p><ul><li>Officers reportedly face pressure to review and verify a person's citizenship status within 12 minutes and record it in a law enforcement database.</li><li>The whistleblower noted that officers were instructed to rely on potentially inaccurate data, and training on the new procedures consisted of a video lasting less than two hours.</li><li>The report states that U.S. citizens are being investigated without their knowledge or the opportunity to correct any erroneous data.</li></ul><p><strong>Concerns: </strong> When officers raised concerns about these practices, they were informed that individual officers would not be held personally liable for the searches, suggesting that the agency may recognize the potential illegality of the activity.</p><p><strong>Statements: </strong> Schumer criticized the DHS, stating, "The Department of Homeland Security is sending hundreds of officers who should be focused on our security on a wild goose chase to prove Trump's long-debunked election conspiracy theories – and DHS is telling officers to lie to do it." He further asserted that the initiative is an unlawful order aimed at silencing Americans.</p><ul><li>Both DHS and the White House have not responded to requests for comment from Axios.</li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong> This whistleblower report emerges as the Trump administration has been attempting to obtain sensitive voter information, including driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers, and has demanded that states provide voter registration lists and access to voting equipment.</p><ul><li>Federal courts have repeatedly rejected the Department of Justice's attempts to compel states to turn over voter data, although litigation continues in some jurisdictions. Sixteen states have voluntarily provided or agreed to provide voter files.</li></ul><p><strong>Legal Concerns: </strong> Attorneys challenging the government's requests argue that they raise privacy and security issues and likely violate various state and federal laws.</p><ul><li>Multiple audits have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States or proof that large numbers of noncitizens are voting.</li></ul><p><strong>Next Steps: </strong> Senators Schumer and Padilla are calling for DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to halt the initiative and brief Congress on its activities, though it remains unclear if he will comply.</p>