DHS Expands Citizenship Checks, Experts Warn of Major Risks

UPDATE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to incorporate state driver’s license information into its rapidly expanding federal citizenship verification system, raising alarms among experts and advocacy groups. This initiative, revealed in a public notice on October 20, 2023, is seen as a key element of a broader effort to identify noncitizens on voter rolls and enhance immigration enforcement.

According to emails obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, DHS approached Texas officials earlier this year regarding a pilot program to integrate the state’s driver license data into the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. While it remains unclear if Texas participated, the implications of this move are significant. Experts warn that using sensitive driver’s license information could lead to wrongful disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW: The announcement comes as the DHS seeks to streamline verification processes for election officials, allowing for bulk searches of voter rolls. Currently, around 0.015% of Texas voters—approximately 2,724 individuals—have been flagged as potential noncitizens in initial checks. Concerns are mounting that inaccurate data could undermine public trust and voter access.

Michael Morse, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, noted, “It is the key that unlocks everything,” referring to the integration of driver’s license numbers with other identifiers for citizenship checks. This system raises serious privacy concerns, as state driver’s license databases contain sensitive personal information, including place of birth and employment details.

Rachel Orey, director of the elections project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, emphasized the risks of using driver’s license numbers, stating, “This could have far-reaching consequences for voter access and public trust if inaccurate data were used to question eligibility or citizenship.” She highlighted the potential for citizens to be wrongly flagged as noncitizens, especially given that driver’s licenses can be reused and people may hold licenses from multiple states.

DHS’s notice outlines that this expanded use of SAVE aims to improve accuracy and efficiency for agencies verifying immigration status and U.S. citizenship. However, the agency has faced criticism for its approach. Advocacy groups have filed lawsuits claiming the pooling of data in SAVE violates the Privacy Act, which protects against the misuse of personal information.

In a court filing submitted Wednesday, Travis County voter registration director Christopher Davis expressed concerns over the accuracy of SAVE results. Data indicated that around 25% of flagged voters in the county had already provided proof of citizenship when registering. Davis cautioned that flawed data could lead to eligible voters being improperly removed from rolls, risking their voting rights.

The DHS has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the status of its collaboration with Texas on this initiative. As the situation develops, officials are encouraging public comment on the proposed changes to SAVE, allowing stakeholders to influence how these systems will operate moving forward.

WHAT’S NEXT: As DHS continues to roll out this initiative, election officials and advocates are urging transparency and accountability. The potential for widespread implications on voter access and civil liberties has sparked a national conversation about data privacy and election integrity. Stay tuned for updates on how this situation unfolds.