Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, seeking access to voter citizenship verification data he claims is being unjustly withheld. Paxton’s lawsuit targets 450,000 registered voters. He states the need for cooperation of the Department of Homeland Security.
Legal Action and Its Targets
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal proceedings against the Biden administration, contending that federal agencies are failing to provide necessary voter citizenship verification data. This lawsuit, filed shortly before an election and as early voting commenced, insists on federal compliance to support Texas’s efforts to maintain electoral integrity. The Department of Homeland Security, its Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, USCIS, and Director Ur Jaddou are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The core of the lawsuit revolves around the alleged failure of federal agencies to supply information needed to verify the citizenship of as many as 450,000 registered voters. Paxton argues that without this data, Texas cannot effectively ensure that its voter rolls are accurate, potentially compromising the conduct of fair elections in the state.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration, claiming it has not assisted Texas in verifying the citizenship of some registered voters, despite acknowledging that noncitizen voting is illegal and very rare. https://t.co/uWbq1W52bt
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) October 23, 2024
Federal Programs and Controversies
The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program is highlighted in the lawsuit as a federal mechanism for validating citizenship status. However, Paxton criticizes its adequacy, stating that the federal government has not responded to requests concerning voters who did not use Texas-issued IDs for registration. Paxton contends that the lack of federal cooperation obstructs Texas’s pursuit of free and fair elections.
“The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program is the most secure and efficient way to reliably verify an individual’s citizenship or immigration status, including for verification regarding voter registration and/or voter list maintenance,” the agency’s director, Ur M. Jaddou, wrote to Nelson, adding that the agency “currently cannot offer an alternative process to any state.”
Paxton has pushed for Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson to secure federal data to cross-check voter rolls and ensure their integrity. His letter, sent on October 7, set a deadline of October 19 for federal compliance. Notably, the Texas Secretary of State has joined the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff.
Texas sues Biden administration for not verifying 450K 'potentially ineligible' voters' citizenship https://t.co/YnXZg0Vl8P
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) October 24, 2024
Political Reactions and Future Steps
Republicans, including Paxton and former President Trump, have raised concerns about noncitizen voting, although experts argue there is no evidence it affects election outcomes. Paxton indicates that most individuals being verified are lawful voters but insists the law must be followed. Critics, primarily from the Democratic Party, describe these actions as voter intimidation that could suppress legitimate voter turnout.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has refused to comply with federal law, presenting yet another obstacle for Texas to overcome in ensuring free and fair elections in our state. The law demands that they provide important information regarding the citizenship of nearly half a million potentially ineligible voters. Since the Biden-Harris Administration has chosen to ignore the law, I will see them in court,” Ken Paxton said.
Governor Greg Abbott has previously claimed success in removing ineligible voters, though investigations have questioned these assertions. As Paxton looks to court for resolution, the Department of Homeland Security has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. This case spotlights the ongoing political and legal battle over voter verification and election integrity.
