DOJ Voter List: Nearly 39% Born in the US
Los Angeles election officials told a federal court that nearly 39% of people on the Justice Department's list of suspected non-citizen voters were born in the United States. The DOJ had given California a 48-hour deadline to segregate ballots from 20,000 people on the list — California refused, and the DOJ sued. The findings raise serious questions about how the government identifies non-citizens and who could be wrongly flagged.
What if your name ended up on a government list of suspected non-citizens — and you were born in the United States? That is exactly what Los Angeles election officials found when they reviewed the Department of Justice's list of 20,000 people it claimed were non-citizens registered to vote in California. Among the 200-person sample they analyzed, 38.9% had records showing they were born in the US.
The DOJ sent the list to Los Angeles County and California's secretary of state last week, demanding they segregate ballots from anyone on the list within 48 hours — unless they could verify citizenship. California officials refused. The DOJ then sued them on Thursday. Of the 20,000 names on the list, only about 7,000 had a Los Angeles County address, according to court filings. Aman Bhullar, an official in the LA clerk and recorder's office, submitted a court declaration with the findings: 43% of those on the list had already cancelled voter registrations, and 71% had never voted at all.
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The Department of Homeland Security, which compiled the list, has refused to share how it matched voter rolls to its non-citizen records. That methodology matters. In July, DHS told Nevada it had up to 16,000 non-citizens on its voter rolls. When Nevada investigated a follow-up list of 185 names, officials found every single one was a citizen. R. Trent McCotter, the acting deputy attorney general, acknowledged at a Monday press conference that citizens could be on the list. "There may be some names on there who, it turns out, ultimately are citizens. We're not perfect," he said. A DOJ spokesperson argued that a US birthplace listed on a voter registration form does not automatically prove citizenship.
Why This Matters for Immigrants
If you are a naturalized citizen, a green card holder, or an immigrant with any legal status, being wrongly placed on a list like this could affect your voting rights or trigger government scrutiny. The error rate seen in California — and the earlier Nevada case — shows that government databases can and do misidentify people. You have the right to challenge any incorrect government record about your status.
What to Do
- Check your voter registration status through your county election office to confirm it is active and accurate.
- If you are a naturalized citizen, keep a copy of your Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) in a safe place — this is your primary proof of citizenship.
- If you receive any government notice questioning your citizenship or voter eligibility, do not ignore it. Contact an immigration lawyer before responding.
- Follow updates from California's secretary of state and Los Angeles County election officials for news on the ongoing lawsuit.
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When the government places someone on a non-citizen list in error, that person has the right to challenge the designation — but acting quickly matters. Naturalized citizens should gather their N-550 certificate and any supporting documentation of their naturalization date immediately. If you receive a government inquiry about your citizenship status, you are not required to respond without legal counsel, and doing so without an attorney can create unnecessary risk. Consult an immigration lawyer before engaging with any agency on this issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the government remove my ballot or cancel my voter registration based on this list?
California officials refused to segregate ballots based on the DOJ list, and a lawsuit is now pending. No ballots have been removed based on this list. Courts will decide whether the DOJ's demand was lawful.
What if I am a naturalized citizen and my name is on a government non-citizen list?
Your Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) is your primary proof of citizenship. Keep it in a safe place. If you are contacted by any government agency questioning your status, show that document and consult an immigration attorney.
How did DHS build this list, and why is it unreliable?
DHS matched voter rolls against its own non-citizen records, but has not disclosed its exact method. Experts have warned the matching process is error-prone. In Nevada, a similar DHS list of 185 alleged non-citizens turned out to include only citizens after state officials investigated.
Does listing a US birthplace on a voter registration form prove citizenship?
The DOJ says no — a DOJ spokesperson argued that a non-citizen could falsely claim a US birthplace. However, LA officials found that nearly 39% of the sample had US birthplace records, which they presented as evidence the list is unreliable.