Ken Paxton Challenges Biden Administration to Verify Citizenship of 454,300 Texas Voters

Clear Facts

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested assistance from the Biden administration to verify the citizenship status of approximately 454,300 registered voters in Texas.
• Paxton’s request aims to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting non-citizens from voting, amidst concerns about illegal voter registration.
• The citizenship status of these voters remains unverified as they did not register using a driver’s license or state-issued ID, which would automatically confirm their citizenship.

In a bold move to safeguard the integrity of elections, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has called upon the Biden administration to assist in verifying the citizenship status of nearly half a million registered voters in Texas. Paxton’s request, directed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Jaddou, seeks data on around 454,300 voters whose citizenship has not been confirmed.

Paxton’s demand underscores his commitment to ensuring that non-citizens do not participate in elections, a concern heightened by what he describes as a “current scale of the illegal immigration crisis.”

“Although federal and state law prohibits non-citizens from voting,” Paxton pointed out, “federal law paradoxically creates opportunities for non-citizens to illegally register to vote while prohibiting States from requiring voters to have proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.”

The attorney general’s investigation follows an audit by the Texas Secretary of State, which revealed over 1,300 non-citizens registered to vote in four randomly selected counties. This finding has fueled concerns among Texans about the potential for non-citizen voting.

Paxton explained that citizenship status is typically verified when residents use a driver’s license or state-issued ID to register. However, the individuals in question did not use such identification, leaving their status unverified by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“Although I have no doubt the vast majority of the voters on the list are citizens who are eligible to vote,” Paxton stated, “I am equally certain that Texans have no way of knowing whether or not any of the voters on the list are noncitizens who are ineligible to vote.”

The urgency of Paxton’s request is underscored by a deadline of October 17 for USCIS to comply. This initiative is part of broader legal efforts across the nation to address the threat of non-citizen participation in elections, as evidenced by similar actions in Arizona.

As the situation unfolds, the response from the Biden administration remains to be seen, with USCIS yet to comment on Paxton’s request.

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