President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) warned California and Los Angeles County election officials that they could face criminal prosecution and imprisonment if they tabulate mail ballots from a list of more than 20,000 alleged noncitizens.
Key Details of the Dispute
- The DOJ Demand: The DOJ gave California officials a 48-hour deadline to review a list of over 20,000 individuals flagged as potential noncitizens and withhold or segregate their mail ballots.
- The Lawsuit: On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the DOJ officially filed a lawsuit against the state of California to block the counting of these disputed ballots.
- The Warning Letter: Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sent a letter warning local officials—including Los Angeles County Assistant Counsel Peter Bollinger—that knowingly facilitating noncitizen voting is a federal crime.
- Trump’s Statement: President Trump shared the DOJ letter on Truth Social with the comment: "They will all go to jail for a long period of time!!!".
- California’s Response: California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and county officials rejected the demands, noting that the state is within the federal 90-day "quiet period" before an election that restricts purging voter rolls, and criticized the timing as an administrative emergency created by the federal government.











































































































