Local Politics · Los Angeles, CA
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter heard arguments Tuesday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles in a case where the Justice Department seeks to set aside ballots of approximately 20,000 alleged noncitizen voters in California. The DOJ sued Secretary of State Shirley Weber and L.A. County Registrar Dean Logan, requesting an emergency order to halt processing of suspect ballots until citizenship is verified. State attorneys argued the federal list was unreliable—shrinking from a claimed 190,000 to 20,000—and that segregating ballots would disenfranchise voters. Carter indicated he would rule by Wednesday and suggested another hearing in roughly two weeks after the general election, noting Dec. 3 as California's certification deadline. The DOJ also sent letters to election officials in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties requesting verification of citizenship status for additional individuals.
Public Safety
Public opposition to municipal police drone programs is rising across California, driven by privacy concerns and recent litigation. In San Francisco, residents recently opposed a proposed policy allowing drones for various uses, including active investigations and community outreach, without requiring warrants. A recent settlement in Sonoma County required the county to restrict drone use and obtain warrants for residential inspections after an ACLU lawsuit revealed warrantless searches. Statewide, nearly 60 law enforcement agencies currently operate drone programs, often utilizing hardware from vendors like Skydio and Flock Safety.
Public Safety
Public opposition to municipal police drone programs is intensifying across California, with residents at hearings in San Francisco, Santa Ana, and Stockton challenging expanded surveillance authority. The San Francisco Police Commission voted to advance a draft drone policy without adding a warrant requirement after a packed meeting drew vocal critics of the department's proposed use of Skydio drones for patrols, investigations, and community outreach. In Sonoma County, officials settled with the ACLU last month over a 2019 code-enforcement drone program that conducted hundreds of warrantless searches of private properties without a published policy. Nearly 60 California law enforcement agencies now operate drone programs, while a February 2026 UC Berkeley study found no evidence that first-responder drones reduce officer-involved shootings or improve case resolution rates.
Local Politics · Los Angeles, CA
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter heard arguments Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles in a case where the Justice Department seeks to temporarily set aside ballots of approximately 20,000 alleged noncitizen voters on California's rolls. The DOJ named California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and L.A. County Registrar Dean Logan as defendants, requesting an emergency temporary restraining order one week before Election Day. Carter indicated he would rule by Wednesday and suggested a follow-up hearing with expert witnesses about two weeks after the election, noting Dec. 3 is California's deadline to certify results. The DOJ also sent letters to county officials in L.A., Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties asking them to set aside specific mail ballots or verify citizenship status of listed individuals. State attorneys argued the federal government used unreliable data and that segregating ballots would disenfranchise voters.
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Local Politics
Residents in San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Ana, and Stockton are debating local police drone policies amid concerns over surveillance and privacy. In San Francisco, the Police Commission advanced a policy allowing drones for various uses without requiring warrants, despite opposition from privacy advocates. A recent lawsuit settlement in Sonoma County highlighted legal uncertainties regarding warrantless aerial searches. Across California, nearly 60 law enforcement agencies use drone programs, with cities like Santa Ana and Stockton approving significant contracts for new equipment.
Public Safety · San Francisco, CA
Public opposition to municipal police drone programs is growing across California as cities including San Francisco, Santa Ana, and Stockton expand surveillance technology. Earlier this month, the San Francisco Police Commission debated a policy allowing drones for emergency response, investigations, training, and community engagement, ultimately sending it to labor negotiations without adding a warrant requirement. Separately, Sonoma County settled an ACLU lawsuit over warrantless drone surveillance of residential properties, agreeing to limit use and obtain warrants or consent for code-enforcement inspections. Nearly 60 California police agencies currently operate drone programs, per the Los Angeles Police Department.
Local Politics
Election officials in multiple California counties reviewed federal lists of alleged noncitizen voters and found them inaccurate, illegible, or incomplete. Butte County Clerk-Recorder Keaton Denlay said 32 of 47 names on the list were not on active voter rolls, while San Benito County Registrar Francisco Diaz reported some listed individuals weren't registered to vote. Orange County received a letter naming 1,754 alleged noncitizens but was initially addressed to the wrong office. A federal judge appeared skeptical of the administration's legal arguments in court Tuesday, and state officials have refused to segregate ballots based on the lists.
