Story perspectives

Judge Halts HSI Door-Knocking Over Likely Voting Rights Violations

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 5:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Federal judge halted HSI door-knocking operation, citing likely Voting Rights Act violations.
HSI used 26,235 USCIS records and 50.6 million voter-roll files to target Texas, Pennsylvania, California.
Judge also barred immigration agents from election-related field interviews in nine states, warning of intimidation.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed 250,000 noncitizens were registered, a figure independent studies deem extremely rare.

History

Historical Context

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, passed after the Selma marches, authorized federal oversight to prevent discriminatory voting practices nationwide. By 1972, the Justice Department had filed 1,200 voting-rights lawsuits, deploying monitors in 150 Southern counties. In 2024, U.S. District Judge James Dever blocked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s ICE door-knocking campaign targeting Texas, Pennsylvania and California, citing potential VRA violations. The ruling signals that future immigration-related election activities will confront rigorous judicial review, reinforcing protections established by the 1965 act.

1 of 2

Story summary

Federal judge halted HSI door-knocking operation, citing likely Voting Rights Act violations.
HSI used 26,235 USCIS records and 50.6 million voter-roll files to target Texas, Pennsylvania, California.
Judge also barred immigration agents from election-related field interviews in nine states, warning of intimidation.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed 250,000 noncitizens were registered, a figure independent studies deem extremely rare.

1 / 2