The Trump administration has, for the first time ever, built a searchable national citizenship data system.

The tool, which is being rolled out in phases, is designed to be used by state and local election officials to give them an easier way to ensure only citizens are voting. But it was developed rapidly without a public process, and some of those officials are already worrying about what else it could be used for.

NPR is the first news organization to report the details of the new system.

For decades, voting officials have noted that there was no national citizenship list to compare their state lists to, so to verify citizenship for their voters, they either needed to ask people to provide a birth certificate or a passport — something that could disenfranchise millions — or use a complex patchwork of disparate data sources.

      • tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        14 hours ago

        “Improper entry” through illegally crossing a border is a crime, but the majority of undocumented immigrants in the US don’t enter that way. “Unlawful presence” after a visa expires or is denied receives civil penalties rather than criminal, meaning they can’t lead to imprisonment but only fines or a court action like deportation.

        • FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au
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          12 hours ago

          but the majority of undocumented immigrants in the US don’t enter that way.

          Doubt, especially given what we saw from 2021-early 2025.

          • tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            38 minutes ago

            You’re free to go look at the statistics easily found, I’m not gonna do your homework for you. Were you at the border?

          • InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world
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            3 hours ago

            If they are selling method then simple police work is needed to catch them. No need for ICE. Be intellectually honest, you know selling meth isn’t really happening.

          • Lemminary@lemmy.world
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            9 hours ago

            Is selling meth “wanting a better life and pulling your bootstrap”?

            Technically, yes, because it leaves a lot of money. Funny way of saying you have never worked a slave-wage job in your life. But immigrants aren’t selling meth, though, because that would be a FEDERAL crime and not a CIVIL OFFENSE. Curious comparison to reach for immediately.

            • FreedomAdvocate@lemmy.net.au
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              7 hours ago

              You said that commuting a crime of wanting a better life is ok, so I asked if wanting a better life by selling meth is ok……and you said yes….so yeah, your opinion isn’t really necessary after that.

      • Lemminary@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        Parking illegally is a crime, bub.

        Not surprised a MAGAt can’t weigh not only the severity of the crime, but the motivations, its consequences, its long history, and overall social impact, and still decide they would rather lick boots instead. Good luck picking all that fruit in Texas and constructing those homes after a hurricane in Florida, though, champ. Send pics of your proud & hard work.