Protests have erupted in Los Angeles following recent federal immigration enforcement actions in the city. In response to this unrest, President Donald Trump reiterated his administration’s hardline stance on immigration, stating that undocumented immigrants play a crucial role in expanding the Democratic voter base.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that cities like Los Angeles are central to Democratic power, alleging that they use undocumented immigrants to manipulate elections and exacerbate the welfare state, thus denying jobs to American citizens.
These claims have been categorically denied by Los Angeles County election officials.
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office labeled Trump’s assertions as “false and unsupported,” emphasizing that they only serve to confuse the public regarding the integrity of the electoral system.
Mike Sanchez, a spokesperson for the county’s Registrar-Recorder, explained that the county employs multiple safeguards to ensure that only eligible voters participate in elections.
In California, to register to vote, individuals must meet five criteria established by the California Secretary of State. These requirements include being a U.S. citizen, a California resident, at least 18 years old by Election Day, not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony, and not found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.
Those who meet these eligibility criteria can register to vote, which involves attesting under penalty of perjury that they meet all the necessary requirements. Sanchez emphasized that this sworn statement is a crucial aspect of the voter registration process.
Voting as a noncitizen is considered a felony in California, with severe penalties including imprisonment and potential deportation, according to Richard Hasen, a professor of law and voting rights expert at UCLA.
While some cities in the U.S. permit noncitizens to vote in specific local elections, such as school boards or city councils in Vermont and Maryland, in California, only San Francisco allows noncitizens to vote, and even then, it is restricted to school board elections.
Upon registration, personal information is verified through the State Voter Registration database, which cross-checks the records against those of the state Department of Motor Vehicles and the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number.
Once verified, voters do not have to present identification when voting in person. However, if verification has not occurred, they must show an acceptable form of ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, as outlined by the California Secretary of State.
When polls open, voters must sign a roster in the presence of election officials, who confirm their identity and eligibility.
Election officials regularly maintain the voter rolls by checking against several data sources, including death records from the California Department of Public Health and various federal agencies.
For those using mail-in ballots, the signature on the returned envelope is matched against the signature on file. If there are discrepancies, the voter is notified and given an opportunity to resolve the issue.
“Only verified ballots are accepted and counted,” Sanchez stated, reinforcing the county’s commitment to electoral integrity.
The narrative that undocumented immigrants are voting in large numbers has been persistent and originated from a conspiracy theory known as the “great replacement.” Surveys indicate that a significant portion of the American public now believes in an orchestrated effort to replace U.S.-born citizens with immigrants for electoral advantages.
This theory gained traction during Trump’s presidential campaign, particularly following the 2016 elections when he claimed, without evidence, that millions of undocumented immigrants cast votes that compromised his chances of winning the popular vote.
Voting rights expert Hasen noted that Trump’s claim of losing the popular vote by 3 million was likely the reason for his emphasis on the notion that illegal voting impacted the outcome.
After his defeat in 2020 and the focus on mail-in voting, Trump shifted his narrative back to immigration in his 2024 campaign, which highlights immigrants as voters supposedly undermining elections.
Hasen explained that accusations of voter fraud mirror the sentiments of those feeling politically disenfranchised, suggesting that those on the losing side of elections tend to adopt the belief that manipulation is occurring.
Decades of research have consistently demonstrated that voter fraud, particularly on a scale that could alter election outcomes, is extremely rare. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, numerous instances labeled as fraud often arise from human error rather than deliberate malpractice.
“People on the losing end tend to believe in cheating,” Hasen remarked, adding that Trump has magnified these partisan divisions surrounding voting integrity.
Elon Musk, a notable figure currently supporting Trump’s campaign efforts, has also echoed these unfounded claims, suggesting that the Democratic Party seeks to engineer electoral advantages through immigration.
Demographic trends show that while the number of undocumented immigrants in California is still increasing, the growth rate has significantly declined.
Manuel Pastor, a sociology and American studies professor at USC, noted that between 2010 and 2023, California saw a 5% increase (approximately 500,000) in its immigrant population. This is a stark contrast to higher growth rates in prior decades.
Interestingly, while undocumented immigrant populations overall have risen in many U.S. states, California has witnessed a decline, per research from the Pew Research Center.
Pastor also pointed out that contemporary immigration trends indicate that many new arrivals are heading to states such as Florida and Texas rather than California, which has become increasingly costly for immigrants.
Moreover, he highlighted that more than 70% of undocumented individuals in Los Angeles have been in the country for over a decade, often forming established communities integrated into the workforce and local institutions.
image source from：latimes
