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Federal appeals court upholds ban on Trump's bid to use citizenship data for voter checks

The 2-1 panel said DHS had not shown the system could operate without violating privacy laws protecting Social Security information.

  • On Friday, a federal appeals court panel blocked the Department of Homeland Security from using a new voter-check tool by a 2-1 vote. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit determined the department failed to demonstrate the system could operate without violating privacy laws.
  • The Trump administration sought to repurpose an immigrant status database to compare voter rolls against federal citizenship and Social Security data, aiming to implement these restrictions before the midterm elections in November.
  • Judges noted risks that inaccurate Social Security information could lead to citizens having their voter registrations incorrectly cancelled, particularly in Texas. The court upheld a ruling that the modified Systematic Alien Verification Entitlements system illegally discloses Americans' sensitive personal information.
  • Advocacy groups including the League of Women Voters and Democracy Forward praised the decision. CREW President Donald K. Sherman stated, "The courts are repeatedly and unambiguously saying no" regarding the administration's attempts to use the database.
  • The panel of judges intends to issue a full decision on the underlying legal questions within 10 days as the ruling remains temporary. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to fight adverse rulings to implement the processes before the election, now less than two months away.
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WTVB broke the news on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
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