Federal judge blocks Trump’s citizenship requirement to register to vote

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot enforce an executive order requiring written proof of US citizenship — a decision the administration is defending as a legitimate effort to protect the integrity of elections.

US District Judge Collen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, DC, on Friday found the requirement unconstitutional, writing that the President “lacks the authority to direct such changes.”

“The first question presented in these consolidated cases is whether the President, acting directly, may alter the investigation of federal election procedures,” Judge Collen Kollar-Kotelly wrote in his opinion. “Because our constitution assigns responsibility for the regulation of elections to the states and Congress, this court believes that the President has the authority to direct such changes.”

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However, a White House spokesperson told Fox Digital News that Trump acted within his legal authority.

“President Trump has exercised his legal authority to ensure that American citizens cast ballots in American elections,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson told FOX News Digital in an email. “This is a reminder that only the Democrat party will file a lawsuit against it.”

He added, “We expect to be confirmed by the supreme court.”

The judge met with the plaintiffs – including the United Latin American Service Organization (National Committee Feerers Education Fund – Arguing that the Constitution “

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The decision states that the US Election Commission has permanently banned the added requirement of the Federal Voter form, according to the Associated Press.

The case will continue as the judge examines other aspects of Trump’s order, according to media reports.

In March, President Trungale signed an executive order requiring anyone registering to vote to provide government-issued proof of US citizenship.

The order also directed the attorney general to enter into information sharing agreements with state election officials to identify cases of election fraud or other election-related funds that are consistent with election integrity practices.

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“There are other steps we will be taking in the coming weeks,” Trump said shortly before signing the order. “We think we will be able to finish getting the right choice.”

Kollar-Koilelly issued a preliminary injunction in April, and another federal judge blocked the executive order on March 25 in June following a separate challenge brought by Democratic State Attorneys, the Scots Press reported.

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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

FOX News’ Louis Casiano, Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.