Feds arrest more than two dozen green card holders in California for allegedly voting, weeks before the midterms

Federal authorities have made over two dozen arrests in California, targeting foreign nationals for allegedly registering and voting illegally in U.S. elections. This move is part of the Trump administration's campaign to curb noncitizen voting before the upcoming midterm elections. Despite data suggesting that such occurrences are rare and challenging to prove, these arrests signal an escalation in the ongoing dispute between the federal government and California over voter registration.

The individuals arrested are lawful permanent residents, not U.S. citizens, and are charged with crimes such as providing false information on naturalization applications and submitting fraudulent voter registrations. The arrests, part of Operation Protect the Vote, come amid a broader federal push for detailed voter data, including citizens' birthdates, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers.

This year, the Justice Department has charged around 90 people for various types of election misconduct, including 50 alleged noncitizen voters.

California, with its 23 million registered voters, is a key battleground in the voting dispute. The federal government has sued the state, demanding proof of noncitizenship before counting mail ballots from individuals it identifies as "likely" noncitizens. However, California's Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, maintains that the administration has not provided sufficient evidence to support these claims.

The state mails ballots to all registered voters, a practice that has come under scrutiny as part of this ongoing legal battle.