Trump promoted a basis for verifying voter citizenship

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The creation of a national database to verify the citizenship of voters in the United States has sparked renewed political and social controversy. The information, revealed by National Public Radio (NPR), It notes that the administration of former President Donald Trump worked secretly during his term to develop this technological tool, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The system's goal is to allow state and local election officials to compare registered voter data with records held by the Social Security Administration and Immigration Services. The initiative is being managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which has described it as a "game-changer" in efforts to combat alleged voter fraud.

Matthew Tragresser, a USCIS spokesman, told NPR that the agency “is moving quickly to eliminate voter and benefit fraud among the foreign-born population.” The project represents the first attempt to establish a national citizenship list, making it the closest initiative to a national voter registry in the country’s history.

Privacy concerns

Although the Trump administration has not denied the development of this database, privacy experts have expressed concern about the lack of transparency and potential misuse of the data. “All of us who live in this free country want to believe that there are still privacy rights that are respected,” Kim Wyman, a former Washington secretary of state and fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told NPR.

The political context also plays a role. Trump insists that non-citizen immigrants voted illegally for the Democratic Party, especially in the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. This narrative supports measures like the creation of this database.

Also, in MayUSCIS announced the update to the SAVE (Systematic Verification of Aliens for Access to Rights) system., establishing an agreement with the Social Security Administration to cross-reference data for electoral purposes. The speed of the process and the lack of public consultation create uncertainty about the limits of its application.

Legal measures underway. What does Trump say?

An executive order signed by Trump in March also required the presentation of a passport or equivalent document when registering to vote. However, this measure was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in April.

For critics, this database raises profound questions about civil rights, privacy, and the risk of discrimination against naturalized migrant communities in an increasingly polarized political climate.

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Sources:

• NPR
• USCIS
• SSA