Justice Department seeks contempt order over immigrant‑rights group data release

The US Justice Department has asked a federal judge to consider contempt proceedings against the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) after the group published an analysis of a government list of alleged non‑citizen voters in California.

Chief Judge James Boasberg had earlier authorised CHIRLA to view the data – a list of more than 20,000 names the Trump administration says belong to non‑citizens – but ordered the plaintiffs not to disclose any names and to use the information solely to argue legal standing.

In filings released on Saturday, CHIRLA’s lawyers said their review found over 40 % of the names did not appear in the state’s voter file and identified 22 individuals who were likely naturalised citizens, with thousands of confirmed US citizens also on the list.

The Justice Department responded on Sunday, asserting that the group’s public analysis breached Boasberg’s order and had no bearing on the case’s standing. The department’s filing suggested the judge refer the matter for possible criminal contempt investigation.

Separately, the department appealed a San Francisco district court ruling that barred it from demanding election officials remove or separate ballots of suspected non‑citizens. A hearing on the appeal is set for Monday.

Source: ABC News. Photo: Brett Sayles / Pexels.