{"id":375527,"date":"2026-10-17T10:30:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T10:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/375527\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T10:30:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T10:30:13","slug":"trump-doj-warns-california-after-suspected-noncitizen-voters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/375527\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump DOJ warns California after suspected noncitizen voters"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Trump administration<\/a> has fired a warning shot at California election officials, threatening possible criminal prosecution for counting ballots cast by suspected noncitizens as a bitter voting showdown escalates just weeks before Election Day.<\/p>\n

In a blistering letter sent Friday, the Justice Department<\/a> warned that election workers who knowingly process ballots from people identified by federal authorities as noncitizens could find themselves facing a federal criminal investigation.<\/p>\n

The extraordinary threat came just one day after the administration slapped California with a lawsuit seeking to block the counting of mail-in ballots from roughly 20,000 suspected noncitizens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The Trump administration is threatening possible criminal prosecution for counting ballots cast by suspected noncitizens. Tom Brenner\/Pool via CNP \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n

\u201cThe legal consequences for either facilitating or ignoring a federal crime are significant. Noncitizen voting in a federal election is a federal crime \u2014 and knowingly facilitating such conduct is equally unlawful,\u201d Trent McCotter, the Justice Department\u2019s acting deputy attorney general, wrote in the letter obtained by the Associated Press.<\/p>\n

McCotter delivered an even more ominous warning to officials responsible for tallying votes.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf persons knowingly tabulate ballots cast by individuals identified by federal agencies as noncitizens, they risk becoming aiders and abettors to a federal crime,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

The letter was directed to the Los Angeles County Counsel\u2019s office, with copies sent to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan.<\/p>\n

The latest salvo comes as the Trump administration ramps up its crusade against alleged noncitizen voting ahead of the Nov. 3 election.<\/p>\n

The latest bombshell comes as the Trump administration ramps up its crusade against voter fraud ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Ruaridh Connellan for NY Post<\/p>\n

Federal officials said they identified approximately 20,000 likely noncitizens who received mail-in ballots in California, where ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters.<\/p>\n

The Justice Department demanded that state officials review a password-protected thumb drive containing the names within just 48 hours.<\/p>\n

When California failed to meet the deadline, the administration sued the state on Thursday, seeking to stop the ballots from being counted until the voters\u2019 citizenship status could be verified.<\/p>\n

The threat came just one day after the administration slapped California with a lawsuit seeking to block the counting of mail-in ballots from roughly 20,000 suspected noncitizens. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia election officials were given an opportunity to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls and to sequester ballots returned from suspected\u00a0ineligible voters. They refused,\u201d said LA\u2019s top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are taking California to federal court to demand that the votes of American citizens not be diluted by noncitizens,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Weber has pushed back, saying federal authorities have provided no evidence substantiating their explosive allegations.<\/p>\n

The dispute is part of a broader crackdown that has seen the administration demand sensitive voter information from states, including birth dates, addresses, driver\u2019s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.<\/p>\n

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin alleged that as many as 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote across California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

In July, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin alleged that as many as 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote across California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania \u2014 claims met with skepticism from state election officials.<\/p>\n

In Nevada, federal authorities initially flagged 1,500 supposed noncitizen voters, but a subsequent review found zero registered noncitizens among those identified.<\/p>\n

The Justice Department has charged approximately 90 people with various election-related offenses this year, including 50 accused of voting illegally as noncitizens.<\/p>\n

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