Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launches legal battle against Biden administration over voter citizenship data, alleging federal obstruction in maintaining election integrity.
At a Glance
- Ken Paxton sues Biden administration for not verifying citizenship of up to 450,000 Texas voters
- Lawsuit targets Department of Homeland Security and USCIS for alleged non-compliance with federal law
- Paxton claims lack of federal cooperation hinders Texas’s ability to ensure fair elections
- Texas Secretary of State joins as co-plaintiff in the legal action
Paxton Takes Legal Action Against Federal Government
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, accusing federal agencies of failing to assist Texas in verifying the citizenship status of registered voters. The legal action targets the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and its Director Ur Jaddou.
At the heart of the lawsuit is the alleged failure to provide information needed to verify the citizenship of up to 450,000 voters in Texas. Paxton argues that this lack of cooperation from federal authorities severely hampers the state’s ability to maintain accurate voter rolls and ensure the integrity of its elections.
Federal Law and Voter Verification
The lawsuit hinges on federal law that mandates the provision of citizenship information to states for voter verification purposes. Paxton claims that despite repeated requests, the Biden administration has not responded to inquiries about voters who did not use Texas-issued IDs to register.
“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
While the DHS has suggested that states can use the USCIS’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to verify voter citizenship status, Paxton argues that this system is inadequate for the task at hand.
Timing and Political Context
The lawsuit comes at a politically sensitive time, filed shortly before the election and after early voting had already begun in Texas. This timing has intensified the debate over voter eligibility and the measures taken to ensure electoral integrity.
Paxton and other Republican officials, including former President Trump, have consistently raised concerns about noncitizen voting, despite it being both illegal and rare. Critics argue that these efforts could lead to voter suppression, potentially intimidating eligible voters from participating in the electoral process.
Controversy Over Voter Roll Accuracy
The issue of noncitizen voting has been a contentious topic in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott previously claimed the removal of over 1 million ineligible voters, including 6,500 noncitizens. However, subsequent investigations suggested these numbers were likely inflated or incorrect.
“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.” – Ur M. Jaddou
Paxton’s office has acknowledged that most individuals whose citizenship status is being checked are likely lawful voters. However, he insists that the federal government’s alleged obstruction prevents Texas from fulfilling its duty to maintain accurate voter rolls.
Looking Ahead
As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how states verify voter eligibility and maintain their voter rolls. With the Texas Secretary of State joining as a co-plaintiff, the case underscores the state’s commitment to pursuing this matter through the courts.
While the Department of Homeland Security has not yet commented on the lawsuit, the case is likely to reignite debates about the balance between election security and voter access. As Texas pursues its legal strategy, the nation watches to see how federal courts will interpret the obligations of federal agencies in assisting states with voter roll maintenance.
Sources:
- Texas sues Biden administration for not verifying 450K ‘potentially ineligible’ voters’ citizenship
- Texas sues US over noncitizen voting allegations
- Texas sues Biden administration for not providing data on noncitizens
- Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Biden-Harris Administration for Refusing to Verify the Citizenship Status of Potentially Ineligible Voters on Texas Voter Rolls