The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, accusing the federal government of blocking efforts to verify the immigration status of individuals on the state’s voter rolls. Attorney General Ashley Moody’s legal action targets the Department of Homeland Security and its Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for allegedly refusing to provide immigration data necessary to ensure only citizens are registered to vote.
Florida’s lawsuit claims the Biden administration’s refusal to cooperate undermines the state’s ability to maintain voter-roll integrity. The Department of Homeland Security reportedly denied a request from Florida to verify the citizenship status of individuals flagged by the state as potentially ineligible voters.
I am taking legal action against @DHSgov @SecMayorkas for refusing to comply with Florida’s demand to verify immigration records of voters and ensure voter integrity.https://t.co/QBVpdseQXB
— AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) October 17, 2024
“Florida has identified registered voters who may not be U.S. citizens, and DHS refuses to provide information necessary to determine their immigration status,” Moody said in a statement. The lawsuit contends that without the federal government’s cooperation, Florida cannot accurately identify and remove noncitizens from the voter rolls.
Florida Secretary of State Cory Byrd echoed Moody’s concerns, stating, “Voting is a right granted to American citizens — not illegal immigrants or other noncitizens.” Byrd argued that the state’s efforts to protect election integrity are being blocked by federal authorities and vowed to continue the fight to uphold the law.
Alabama and Virginia have faced similar issues with the Biden administration as the Department of Justice has sued both states over their efforts to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. Florida’s lawsuit highlights a growing conflict between state efforts to secure elections and federal government actions under the Biden-Harris administration.
