The state of Florida is suing the Biden-Harris administration for allegedly not verifying immigration records, a critical step for ensuring accurate voter rolls and preventing noncitizens from voting in elections.
BREAKING: Florida is suing the Biden Administration over their refusal to verify immigration records to prevent non-citizens from voting.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) October 17, 2024
Thank you, Governor DeSantis!
According to the lawsuit obtained by Fox News Digital, the state asserts that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is legally obligated to respond to requests from state or local governments seeking to verify the immigration status of individuals in their jurisdiction for lawful purposes.
“Because the federal government is refusing to comply with these obligations and frustrating Florida’s ability to maintain the integrity of its elections, Florida files this suit,” the lawsuit reads.
Florida asserts its responsibility to maintain accurate and current voter registration records, pointing to the disorder observed at the southern border.
To monitor immigration status, the state claims it requires assistance from the federal government, stating that its Department of State has identified several individuals who are not citizens.
Florida was unable to verify their statuses through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, operated by DHS, due to the program lacking unique identifiers.
The state also reported that its request for verification from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was denied.
Florida is seeking a legal ruling declaring DHS’s refusal to respond to its inquiry as unlawful, along with a declaration affirming its right to receive a response and a court order compelling DHS to provide that response.
In a statement, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody emphasized that voting is exclusively for citizens and criticized the Biden-Harris administration for allowing millions of undocumented immigrants into the U.S.
“Voting is a right granted to American citizens—not illegal immigrants or other noncitizens. The Biden-Harris administration has allowed millions of illegal immigrants into the country, and we must ensure that only citizens are on our voter rolls,” she said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“I am taking legal action against the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Mayorkas to ensure Florida is able to maintain the integrity of our state’s voter rolls.”
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd emphasized that the law clearly states that noncitizens are ineligible to vote, referencing the Florida Constitution.
“We are going to prevail in our effort to uphold the law and uphold the Constitution’s guarantee of one citizen, one vote,” he said.
The issue of illegal immigrants voting in elections has become a key topic as the 2024 presidential election approaches, with many Republicans advocating for voter integrity.
In Ohio, it was revealed that 138 noncitizens had voted in elections despite lacking valid citizenship status. This discovery raised concerns about the integrity of voter rolls and intensified discussions surrounding election security.
