Trump team warns election officials of 'criminal liability' for keeping noncitizens on voter rolls

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's team, led by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, warned state election officials they could face "criminal liability" for knowingly keeping noncitizens on voter rolls or facilitating illegal voting.

The letters quickly drew pushback from election officials in Utah and Arizona. They mark the Trump administration's latest effort to tighten enforcement of federal election laws and ensure only eligible citizens vote in federal elections.

Harmeet Dhillon warns election officials of criminal liability over voter rolls

“Any election officer, including the chief election officer of the state, who knowingly retains noncitizens on the state's [state voter registration list] or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability,” Dhillon wrote in letters to officials from Maine, Michigan and Arizona, that were obtained by CBS News.

The warning appeared in letters sent Tuesday to officials in all 50 states, the outlet reported.

“We encourage you to contact us to discuss what steps your state should take to maintain clean voter lists as required by law,” Dhillon added.

A Justice Department spokesperson said the letters were sent to all 50 states and the District of Columbia and sought “voluntary compliance in a timely manner” with obligations under federal law to ensure only citizens vote in federal elections, according to The Independent.

The move comes as the administration presses a broader election enforcement campaign over concerns about voter fraud. Trump has pushed Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require new voters to show proof of citizenship.

The Justice Department is also locked in litigation with multiple states as it seeks uncensored voter rolls. The Civil Rights Division said the records would be used to enforce federal law, while officials acknowledged the data would also be shared with the Department of Homeland Security to check for noncitizen voters.

Utah election official criticizes DOJ warning

The administration has so far suffered 11 defeats at the district court level in its efforts to obtain the voter data, according to CBS News, and some state officials are openly resisting the federal push.

Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, a Republican and the state's top election official, sharply criticized the letter in a social media post.

“Got another love letter this morning from the DOJ sprinkled throughout with threats of criminal prosecution,” Henderson wrote, according to The New York Times. 

“I’m sure I’m not the only chief election officer of a state who is being targeted for following state and federal laws by resisting DOJ’s demands for private voter data that have thus far been ruled illegal by at least a dozen courts,” she continued.

Henderson called the approach “truly bizarre behavior by the federal agency that is supposed to be protecting civil rights.”

Arizona secretary of state rejects DOJ warning

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, also pushed back, defending election officials in his state.

“It is insulting to insinuate that the good people at our county recorders' offices across the state are not doing their jobs correctly,” Fontes said in a statement.

“Arizona election officials have always worked to ensure that only eligible citizens are registered to vote, and we will continue following Arizona law—not directions that come from political rhetoric or intimidation,” he added.

Also Tuesday, Dhillon announced that the Civil Rights Division would send election monitors to 15 jurisdictions across Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Virginia during the upcoming primary season.

Dhillon described the monitoring as routine, noting that the Biden administration sent monitors to nine jurisdictions in 2022.