Urgent: DHS Expands Citizenship Checks, Experts Raise Alarm

UPDATE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a controversial plan to integrate state driver’s license information into its federal citizenship verification system, raising alarms among experts and civil rights advocates. This initiative, revealed in a public notice on October 20, 2023, aims to streamline the identification of noncitizens on voter rolls but threatens to infringe on personal privacy and voter rights.

The DHS intends to enhance the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, which has already expanded to include millions of Americans’ Social Security data. The agency claims that incorporating driver’s license data will allow for more efficient verification of immigration status and U.S. citizenship, but critics warn it could lead to significant inaccuracies and wrongful disenfranchisement.

According to emails obtained by ProPublica, DHS approached Texas officials in June about a pilot program to use the state’s driver license data. While Texas officials expressed willingness to collaborate, it remains unclear whether any data has been provided. The urgency of the situation escalated when Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced on the same day that her office had run the entire state voter roll through SAVE, identifying approximately 2,724 voters—or just 0.015%—as potential noncitizens.

Experts like Michael Morse, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasize the potential for misuse of sensitive information. “This is the key that unlocks everything,” Morse stated, highlighting that driver’s license databases contain crucial personal data, including place of birth, passport numbers, and biometric information.

Civil rights advocates are particularly concerned about the implications of this data-sharing initiative. Rachel Orey, director of the elections project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, warned that inaccuracies in the SAVE system could lead to citizens being wrongly flagged as noncitizens, jeopardizing their voting rights and eroding public trust in electoral integrity.

In response to inquiries regarding the system’s expansion, a DHS spokesperson reiterated that the initiative aims to improve accuracy and efficiency for election agencies. However, advocacy groups have already initiated legal action against the federal government, claiming that the pooling of data violates the Privacy Act, designed to protect personal information from misuse.

The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. If the DHS proceeds with its plan, it could have far-reaching consequences for voter access and public confidence in elections. Observers are closely monitoring the developments as the DHS prepares to implement this controversial expansion.

As the debate unfolds, stakeholders from various sectors, including privacy advocates and electoral officials, are calling for transparency and accountability in how personal data is handled. The implications of this move could resonate across the nation, impacting not only Texas but potentially influencing citizenship verification practices elsewhere.

The next steps are crucial—official comments on the proposed changes are invited, and public concern continues to grow. With the potential for wrongful disenfranchisement looming large, the situation remains highly fluid.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.