Federal Judge in California Restricts DHS Voter Fraud Field Operations in Nine States
A federal judge in California largely barred Department of Homeland Security field operations aimed at voter fraud in nine states, according to reporting by The New York Times and The Hill.
The New York Times reported that a ruling by a federal judge largely blocked homeland security agents from carrying out field interviews in nine states, including California, as part of a sprawling effort to find noncitizens registered to vote.
According to The Hill, a federal judge in California issued the ruling in a Wednesday court decision. The judge, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, was appointed under former President Biden, the report noted.
The Hill reported that the judge barred the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, from conducting "elections-related field operations and field interviews" in nine states. Its summary named California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri and Nevada among them, and did not list the remaining states.
The two reports differ in describing the scope of the order. The New York Times said the ruling largely blocked field interviews, while The Hill said it blocked most DHS field operations focused on voter fraud. Neither summary explains which activities remain permitted under the order.
The New York Times report was written by Zach Montague and Shawn Hubler, according to its byline. The Hill report was written by Mira Bhakta. Both reports concern a single ruling, and neither summary describes a response from the Department of Homeland Security or statements from the judge.
Sources: The New York Times: Judge Restricts D.H.S. Field Operations Aimed at Unearthing Voter Fraud; The Hill: Judge blocks most DHS field operations focused on voter fraud.