Federal judge blocks DHS door-knocking voter checks in nine states
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The gist
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin ordered DHS to halt elections-related field operations in nine states until polls close Nov. 3.
The ruling shields people officials know or suspect are U.S. citizens weeks before midterms.
Background
U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin is a federal judge in Oakland, California, and a Joe Biden appointee. The California Nurses Association and National Nurses United, together with the Voto Latino Foundation, Santa Clara County and the city and county of San Francisco, sued the federal government last month, claiming the Department of Homeland Security was using databases to target nine states for possible illegal voting. The ruling followed a CBS News investigation documenting Homeland Security Investigations agents approaching homes in multiple states. President Trump has prioritized cracking down on voter fraud, though the material notes little evidence backs claims of widespread voting by noncitizens.
How it unfolded
- Oct 21, 2026CBS News published an investigation documenting Homeland Security Investigations agents approaching homes in multiple states.
- Oct 21, 2026Judge Martinez-Olguin ruled late Wednesday that DHS's door-knocking practice likely violates the Voting Rights Act and issued a preliminary injunction effective until polls close on Nov. 3.
- Oct 21, 2026The injunction covers California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, and was stayed until 5 p.m. Friday to allow an appeal.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Martinez-Olguin wrote that the ruling does not make federal investigation of unlawful voting illegal, but limits operations that sweep in U.S. citizens and cited a high likelihood of error in the government's target lists.
- Support
- Protect Democracy counsel Beau Tremitiere said DHS built its lists on bad data, never checked how often it was wrong, and sent agents to people's homes weeks before an election.
- Caution
- Plaintiffs' attorney Geoffrey Curfman said the investigations are causing a credible fear among citizens, noting agencies advertised looking into 300,000 individuals and ended up prosecuting 130.
- Party
- The Trump administration says the practice is part of an effort to crack down on voting by noncitizens; critics say it could intimidate legal voters.
Still unverified
The material notes there has been little evidence to back up claims of widespread voting by noncitizens.