A US federal judge has declared a Trump administration database, which held private information of US citizens, unlawful. The database was misused by several states, leading to the erroneous removal of eligible voters from the rolls. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan from the US District Court for the District of Columbia emphasized the violation of privacy rights and the threat to the right to vote.
Federal agencies were found to have hastily combined and repurposed private data, including unreliable citizenship information, to comply with an executive order on federal elections. States, in partnership with the federal government, have been eliminating US citizens from voter lists based on inaccurate data. The judge highlighted the importance of protecting privacy and voting rights from government intrusion.
The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by a coalition of voting-rights and privacy advocates, including the League of Women Voters. They challenged modifications to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, managed by the US Department of Homeland Security, for citizenship and immigration verification. In 2025, Trump’s executive order mandated documentary proof of citizenship for federal election voter registration, citing enforcement inadequacies.
Executive Order 14248 directed federal agencies like the DHS and Social Security Administration to establish mechanisms for verifying citizenship or immigration status of voters. The League of Women Voters hailed the judge’s decision, calling it a halt to the administration’s interference in elections. The database, containing sensitive personal data of millions, was criticized for exposing individuals to unwarranted scrutiny and potential removal from voter rolls.
