Judge Blocks DHS from Intimidating Voters in Nine States Before Midterms

Federal Judge Blocks DHS Voter Intimidation Tactics in Nine States

In a significant legal move ahead of the November midterm elections, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction on October 21. The ruling prevents the Trump administration from deploying armed agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct door-to-door questioning of voters' eligibility in nine states, aiming to prevent harassment and intimidation. The federal government is also restricted from conducting elections-related field operations that target individuals known or suspected to be U.S. citizens. The injunction applies to California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin. Read more.

The lawsuit was spearheaded by the California Nurses Association (CNA) and National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, with CNA as an affiliate. See the lawsuit.

These organizations, representing over 225,000 registered nurses, many of whom are naturalized immigrants, argued that their members have been adversely affected by the Department of Homeland Security's "Unlawful Voter Initiative." The presence of armed agents has reportedly caused fear among nurses, influencing their voting preferences and limiting their participation in political activities such as protests and rallies.

Puneet Maharaj, executive director of NNU and CNA, stated, “So many people in the United States are suffering under Trump’s corrupt and cruel policies on behalf of the billionaire class that he knows cannot hold onto power in these upcoming elections without illegally suppressing our vote through outright harassment, intimidation, and even detention. But nurses fight for our patients and for our vision of a healthy society, and that all starts with fighting for a healthy democracy. As nurses, we respect and uphold the human dignity of each person. That translates into the right of each person to have a voice and a vote in decisions that determine the conditions of their life.”

The CNA and NNU were supported in their legal challenge by the Voto Latino Foundation, the city and county of San Francisco, the county of Santa Clara, Protect Democracy, and the National Immigration Law Center.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.

---
Read More USA Works News