States Reach Agreement with Homeland Security
Four Republican-led states—Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio—have reached a settlement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agreeing to share state driver's license data. This agreement, finalized on Friday, December 1, 2025, concludes a dispute that began under the Biden administration. The states had previously sued DHS, alleging that the federal agency was withholding crucial citizenship status information needed to verify voter eligibility.
Under the terms of the settlement, these states will provide driver's license records to DHS. In return, they will gain access to the federal government's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to identify alleged noncitizen voters and enhance what it terms 'election integrity.'
Expansion of the SAVE Program
The SAVE program, operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a branch of DHS, was originally designed to help state and local officials verify the immigration status of individuals applying for public benefits. However, under the Trump administration, the program has undergone significant upgrades. It can now conduct bulk searches and scan state voter rolls for alleged noncitizen voters.
The expanded SAVE system can utilize various data points, including names, birthdays, and Social Security numbers. The integration of state driver's license data, potentially through networks like Nlets (International Justice and Public Safety Network), is expected to provide an additional layer of information for citizenship verification. The settlement also stipulates that the four states will develop a memorandum of understanding with the federal government regarding the use of SAVE and may provide 1,000 randomly selected driver's license records to DHS to assist in improving the system's functionality.
Concerns and Context
While proponents, such as Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, state that the agreement is 'necessary to prevent noncitizens from voting in Iowa elections,' the move has drawn criticism from voting rights advocates. Critics warn that the expanded program could lead to the wrongful purging of eligible voters, citing concerns about the accuracy of the SAVE system, which has historically been prone to misidentifying naturalized citizens.
Reports indicate that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare. For example, Iowa's Secretary of State Paul Pate identified 277 noncitizens registered to vote in the 2024 General Election, with 35 confirmed to have cast ballots. Despite these low numbers, the Trump administration has consistently highlighted the issue as a significant threat to election integrity. The national impact of this settlement is considerable, as the redesign of the underlying SAVE system means all states using the program will eventually gain access to these new bulk-search tools and expanded data checks.
5 Comments
Africa
It's understandable to want secure elections, but the article points out how rare non-citizen voting actually is. This seems like an overreach that could create more problems than it solves.
Coccinella
Data sharing can improve verification, yet giving DHS access to bulk driver's license records raises significant privacy questions for all citizens. There must be strict oversight and transparency.
Muchacho
Clear voter suppression tactics. Disgraceful.
ZmeeLove
This will secure future elections. A necessary step.
Mariposa
While these states want to ensure election integrity, the focus on such a rare occurrence feels politically motivated. We should prioritize making voting accessible and secure for all eligible citizens without creating unnecessary barriers.