Justice Department Arrests Two Dozen Non-Citizens in California Voter Sweep

Federal authorities detained more than two dozen foreign nationals across California on Monday, part of a statewide operation the Justice Department calls Operation Protect the Vote. According to the department, every person arrested holds lawful permanent resident status but lacks the US citizenship that would permit legal voting. Officials allege the detainees registered and cast ballots unlawfully in the country's midterm elections. The sweep marks a sharpening of an ongoing dispute over voter rolls between Washington and California. Last week the Justice Department filed suit against the state and subsequently cautioned that local election workers who knowingly handle or count ballots from non-citizen voters could face investigation and possible prosecution. The arrests follow that warning and expand federal enforcement into local election administration.