Judge blocks Trump admin’s database of Americans’ social security numbers and citizenship status

Judge Sooknanan concluded that the administration's actions violated protections enshrined in the Social Security Act and the Privacy Act, which govern access to sensitive personal information. The ruling noted that some individuals have been wrongfully identified as non-citizens by the SAVE system, leading to the cancellation of their voter registrations.

Furthermore, the judge stated that relying on inaccurate information to falsely label individuals as non-citizens constitutes defamation. The administration's attempt to downplay the consequences of such erroneous labels was described as bordering "on the absurd," given that non-citizen voting can imply criminality.

Plaintiffs, including Democracy Forward and the ACLU, celebrated the decision. Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, stated that the data was unlawfully consolidated in violation of privacy laws. The Department of Homeland Security and the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ruling is expected to be appealed.