Citizenship Checks Prompt DHS To Request Massive Texas Driver Data

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is moving to incorporate state driver’s license information into an expanding federal system designed to streamline citizenship verification. This initiative, announced on October 30, forms part of a broader strategy from the Trump administration to consolidate sensitive data across various sources to identify noncitizens on voter rolls, enhance immigration enforcement, and reveal instances of public benefit fraud.Emails obtained by ProPublica indicate that DHS reached out to Texas officials about a pilot program to integrate driver’s license data earlier this year, though state participation remains uncertain. Accumulating such information could lead to erroneous flags for citizens as noncitizens due to potential data inaccuracies and dual licenses across states. Experts express concern, as this could undermine voter trust and access. DHS claims this integration will improve the efficacy of verifying immigration status and citizenship through SAVE, though advocacy groups argue this undermines privacy rights under the Privacy Act.