Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris administration over what he claims is a lack of cooperation in verifying the citizenship status of 450,000 potentially ineligible voters. The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Texas, names the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and its director, Ur Jaddou, as defendants.
Paxton alleges that the Biden-Harris administration has failed to comply with federal law by not providing the necessary information to verify the citizenship status of individuals on Texas’ voter rolls. According to Paxton, these individuals did not use a Texas-issued driver’s license or ID card to register to vote, making it difficult to confirm their citizenship status.
The Texas Secretary of State, Jane Nelson, reached out to USCIS for assistance in verifying the citizenship of these individuals, but the response from USCIS regarding the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program was deemed inadequate by Paxton. The SAVE program requires a unique DHS-issued immigration identifier, which is not readily available in Texas’s voter registration system.
Paxton argues that the SAVE program is not a sufficient tool for verifying the citizenship status of individuals on the voter rolls, especially since the state lacks the necessary immigration identifiers. The lawsuit also highlights the increasing fees associated with the verification process through the SAVE system.
The filing points out the paradox in federal law, which prohibits non-citizens from voting but does not allow states to require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Paxton’s suit emphasizes the need for stronger measures to ensure the integrity of the voting process and prevent illegal registration.
While the DHS spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation, USCIS has engaged with Texas on the matter. The lawsuit underscores the challenges states face in verifying voter eligibility and the limitations of existing federal programs like SAVE.
In the midst of ongoing election-related lawsuits across the country, Texas finds itself at the center of a legal battle over voter citizenship verification. As the state gears up for a competitive Senate race and presidential contest, the issue of voter integrity remains a key concern for officials and voters alike. The outcome of Paxton’s lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for election procedures and security in Texas and beyond.
