Washington, D.C. – In a letter sent to Attorney General Rob Bonta, California Senators Alex Padilla (D‑CA) and Adam Schiff (D‑CA) called for a formal state investigation into a whistleblower’s claim that the Trump administration directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees to access California’s voter‑registration database using personal identifiers.
Whistleblower alleges federal officers masqueraded as voters
The anonymous whistleblower, who disclosed the matter to members of Congress on September 8, said officers in the Department of Homeland Security’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate instructed USCIS staff to enter driver’s‑license numbers and partial Social Security numbers—information drawn from other DHS databases—to log onto California’s official voter‑status website. The website is intended solely for use by registered voters, and the alleged activity would constitute a breach of California Election Code § 18109, which makes it a misdemeanor to misuse voter‑registration information.
Senators demand state‑level review
Padilla and Schiff wrote, “Considering California’s strong protections surrounding the use of voter registration information and personally identifiable information, we believe this disclosure merits a review by your office to determine what actions are necessary and appropriate to protect California voters.” They added that agency leaders had allegedly dismissed concerns raised by the whistleblower and other officers, ordering the searches to continue.
Legal backdrop and prior disputes
Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution assigns Congress the authority to regulate the “times, places, and manner of holding Elections.” Federal law requires states to maintain accurate voter rolls, but it does not grant the Department of Homeland Security or USCIS the power to query state voter‑registration systems.
In July 2025, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division demanded that California Secretary of State Shirley Weber provide an unredacted copy of the state’s voter list, citing the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). After Weber supplied a partially redacted list, the Justice Department sued California in September 2025 to obtain the full data. A federal judge later dismissed that lawsuit as “unprecedented and illegal,” emphasizing that the executive branch lacks authority to commandeer voter‑information databases.
Trump administration’s response
President Trump issued Executive Order 14399 in March 2026, asserting broader federal oversight of voter data to combat what his administration describes as “baseless election conspiracy theories.” While the order was intended to strengthen election integrity, a U.S. District Judge issued a permanent injunction blocking key provisions of the order, finding them ultra vires and a violation of the separation of powers.
State officials stand by privacy protections
California’s Registrar of Voters continues to caution users to protect their personal information when accessing the “My Voter Status” portal, advising them to close their browsers after use. The state’s election code remains clear that misuse of voter data is a criminal offense.
What’s next?
Senators Padilla and Schiff have asked AG Bonta to determine whether any state laws were violated and to recommend corrective actions. The request underscores California’s commitment to safeguarding voter privacy against any overreach, even as the Trump administration pursues broader federal authority over election data.
Both the federal judiciary and state officials are watching closely, as the outcome could set a precedent for how voter‑registration information is accessed and protected nationwide.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
