Trump administration threatens California officials if noncitizens vote in midterms

The Trump administration is escalating tensions with California before the midterm elections. Senior Justice Department officials warned local authorities that processing and tabulating ballots from suspected noncitizen voters could lead to criminal investigations and potential prosecution. This move follows a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration to prevent the state from counting mail-in ballots. The administration is specifically targeting officials who knowingly tabulate these votes, marking a significant legal clash between the federal government and California.