Democrat House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is facing backlash after publicly celebrating his role in efforts to block a requirement for proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.
Critics argue that securing elections by ensuring only American citizens vote is a fundamental principle of the democratic process, and Jeffries’ comments have raised concerns about election integrity.
During a recent appearance, Jeffries boasted about the Democratic Party’s actions to stop President Donald Trump’s March executive order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”
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Jeffries claimed the executive order was a form of voter suppression, aligning it with legislative efforts such as the SAVE Act, which he opposes.
Trump’s executive order asserted that while individual states hold responsibility for administering elections under the Constitution, the federal government has failed to adequately enforce federal laws that prevent the counting of late ballots and non-citizens from registering to vote.
The order directed the Election Assistance Commission to update the national mail voter registration form within 30 days to require proof of U.S. citizenship and additional documentation, while also mandating strengthened information security protections.
“[Trump] does not have the power to do that. And so all the Democrats, the House Democrats, partnered with the Senate Democrats, partnered with the Democratic National Committee, partnered with the Democratic Governors Association, and I even joined the lawsuit. Is it up on screen? I even joined the lawsuit as an individual on your behalf,” Jeffries said.
“And I like this name Jeffries versus Trump, and so we sued him in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and we believe we will win.”
Hakeem Jeffries gloats that Democrats are fighting to make it possible to register to vote without certifying that you’re a citizen of the United States pic.twitter.com/hdpXYNqr7x
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) April 25, 2025
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The lawsuit referenced by Jeffries challenges the legality of Trump’s executive action, arguing that regulating federal elections falls under the authority of Congress and the states, not the President.
Following the challenge, a federal judge blocked a portion of Trump’s executive order.
In a 120-page ruling, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote, “Our Constitution entrusts Congress and the States — not the President — with the authority to regulate federal elections. [N]o statutory delegation of authority to the Executive Branch permits the President to short-circuit Congress’s deliberative process by executive order.”
The decision halted immediate implementation of the executive order’s changes to the voter registration process, pending further legal proceedings.
The clash over citizenship verification in voting comes amid broader national debates about election security, voting laws, and immigration policy.
Supporters of Trump’s order argue that requiring proof of citizenship is a necessary safeguard to ensure that only eligible voters participate in elections.
Opponents, including Jeffries and other Democratic leaders, argue that such measures could create barriers to voting.
The lawsuit and ongoing court battles are expected to continue shaping the landscape for election law leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.
The White House and the Election Assistance Commission have not yet indicated whether they will revise the executive order in response to the court ruling or pursue further legal appeals.
Jeffries’ remarks have intensified scrutiny over Democratic efforts related to voting laws and sparked renewed debate about how best to secure the nation’s electoral system while maintaining voter access.
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