The US Justice Department has sent letters to all 50 states warning that election officials could face criminal charges for allowing noncitizens, also known as illegal immigrants, to remain on their lists of eligible voters.

Warning Letters Sent to All 50 States

The letters, sent by Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, warn that state election officials can be charged under several federal laws designed to safeguard US elections and bar noncitizens from casting ballots.

According to the letters, any election officer who knowingly retains noncitizens on the state’s voter registration list or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability.

The Trump administration has attempted to take greater control of elections, which are administered by states under the US Constitution. The administration has long claimed that people living illegally in the United States pose a threat to election security, though several studies have found that voting by non-US citizens is rare.

Democratic Officials Push Back

Several Democratic state election officials have condemned the warnings, stating that they have already taken extensive efforts to ensure only eligible voters can vote.

Arizona’s Democratic secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, said in a statement: “Arizona election officials have always worked to ensure that only eligible citizens are registered to vote, and we will continue following Arizona law — not directions that come from political rhetoric or intimidation.”

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.