A federal judge has temporarily barred the Department of Homeland Security from conducting election-related field operations and interviews in nine states when officials know, suspect or should reasonably suspect that the people involved are U.S. The restriction covers door-to-door visits in which Homeland Security Investigations agents ask residents about their immigration status and whether they registered or voted in recent elections.
She emphasized that the ruling does not prevent federal officials from investigating unlawful voting by noncitizens. Instead, it blocks investigations that risk intimidating eligible citizens or discouraging groups from voter mobilization.
The judge cited a high likelihood of error in the government’s target lists, which combine agency records, voter rolls and commercially available data. The investigation expanded after DHS directed immigration agencies to assist in pursuing alleged noncitizen voters, with hundreds of agents reassigned to a surge operation across states including California, Georgia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. Agents began visiting homes in September, and federal authorities later announced arrests in California involving lawful permanent residents accused of illegal registration or voting.
The order remains in effect through the close of Election Day but was stayed until 5 p. Friday to give the government time to seek an appeal. The groups that challenged the policy, including nursing organizations and voting-rights advocates, argued that armed agents appearing at private homes could frighten citizens, naturalized voters and people in mixed-status families.