A federal judge ruled on October 10, 2026, that the Justice Department's initiative to collect voter registration records to identify suspected non-U.S. citizens is unlawful. U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan stated that the department exceeded its legal authority and violated federal privacy laws. This ruling blocks the Trump administration from continuing the program, even in states that had voluntarily agreed to participate.
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Federal judge rules against DOJ's request for voter registration records
On October 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled that the Justice Department's effort to collect voter registration records for identifying suspected non-U.S. citizens was unlawful. The judge found that the department exceeded its legal authority and violated federal privacy laws, preventing the continuation of the program.
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Federal judge: DOJ cannot request states’ voter lists for eligibility database
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Federal judge rules against DOJ's request for voter registration records