A DOJ official is sharply challenging an Associated Press report about possible noncitizen voters on California’s voter rolls. The report found that more than 4 out of 10 names flagged as possible noncitizen voters could not be found on the state’s rolls.
The Associated Press cited [1] a legal filing submitted Saturday by an immigrant rights group. Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, dismissed the report and questioned how the group could determine citizenship and voter registration status.
Essayli identified the group as CHIRLA and called its report bogus. His criticism focused on whether the organization had access to official records needed to make its assessment.
“This is a bogus report by the activist illegal immigrant rights group CHIRLA.”
Essayli then asked, “How would they know who is registered to vote and who is a citizen?”
“They don’t (and shouldn’t) have access to any official records,” he wrote on X.
Essayli also accused the media of accepting the organization’s claims while overlooking evidence submitted by his office. He pointed specifically to sworn declarations concerning more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens on California’s voter rolls.
“It’s remarkable that the media accepts whatever these people say as gospel yet won’t report on the sworn declarations we filed in evidence confirming more than 20,000 noncitizens are suspected to be on California’s voter rolls based on official USCIS records.”
That claim directly challenges the picture presented in the Associated Press report. Essayli said the evidence filed by his office was based on official USCIS records, rather than information available to the immigrant rights group.
He also said the report conflicted with findings from LA County. According to Essayli, the county sampled 200 people from the list and confirmed that all 200 were foreign born aliens.
“This report also contradicts LA County’s report, which sampled 200 people on the list, all 200 of whom were re-confirmed as foreign-born aliens,” he added.
This is a bogus report by the activist illegal immigrant rights group CHIRLA. How would they know who is registered to vote and who is a citizen? They don’t (and shouldn’t) have access to any official records.
It’s remarkable that the media accepts whatever these people say as gospel yet won’t report on the sworn declarations we filed in evidence confirming more than 20,000 noncitizens are suspected to be on California’s voter rolls based on official @USCIS records.
This report also contradicts LA County’s report, which sampled 200 people on the list, all 200 of whom were re-confirmed as foreign-born aliens.
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 31, 2026 [2]
Essayli further explained how his office views the list compiled by DOJ. He said every person on that list is confirmed to be a noncitizen, while the office suspects they are registered California voters based on a redacted voter list it obtained.
“Everyone on the list is a confirmed noncitizen. We suspect they are all registered California voters based on the redacted voter list we obtained, requiring our own investigation to positively identify them,” he wrote on X.
Essayli said his office must conduct its own investigation to identify the people because the voter list it received was redacted. He presented that restriction as the obstacle preventing officials from quickly determining whether each person appears on California’s voter rolls.
He also cited LA County’s sample and criminal prosecutions as validation for the DOJ list. Essayli said prosecutions have already been brought against individuals on the list and that additional prosecutions will continue.
“Our list has been validated by LA County’s sample study of 200 names and by the criminal prosecutions we have brought and will continue to bring against the individuals on the list. California could, but refuses to, provide the unredacted list, which would resolve this entire dispute in a matter of hours.”
Let me help you since you’re either too lazy or dishonest to read our witness declarations.
Everyone on the list is a confirmed noncitizen.
We suspect they are all registered California voters based on the redacted voter list we obtained, requiring our own investigation to positively identify them.
Our list has been validated by LA County’s sample study of 200 names and by the criminal prosecutions we have brought and will continue to bring against the individuals on the list.
California could, but refuses to, provide the unredacted list, which would resolve this entire dispute in a matter of hours.
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) November 1, 2026 [3]
The disagreement therefore centers on both the records being used and access to California’s full voter list. The Associated Press report relied on a filing from CHIRLA, while Essayli cited official USCIS records, sworn declarations, the LA County sample and criminal prosecutions.
Essayli’s position also distinguishes confirmed citizenship status from suspected voter registration. He said everyone on the DOJ list is a confirmed noncitizen, but his office must investigate further to positively identify whether those people are registered California voters.
For Essayli, California’s refusal to provide the unredacted list is the central barrier. He said releasing that information could settle the dispute within hours, while the current redactions require investigators to work through the identities themselves.
Stunning admission by California during yesterday’s Ninth Circuit hearing.
California admitted they do nothing to check the citizenship status of voters and will count the illegal ballots of noncitizens who vote. This is why we’re seeking an emergency order. We cannot allow California to dilute legal votes in the upcoming election.
Judge: You agree that if a non-citizen votes and we don’t stop it now, that vote will be counted, correct?
California: That’s absolutely correct.
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) October 26, 2026 [4]
The Associated Press report concluded that more than 4 out of 10 flagged names could not be found on the voter rolls. Essayli countered that CHIRLA lacks official records and that his office’s evidence supports continued investigation of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens.