government
Judge blocks use of federal database to check citizenship, saying it could wrongly purge voters
By Ali Swenson And Fatima Hussein, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
A federal judge on Monday ruled that a recently revamped version of a federal tool central to the Trump administration’s election integrity strategy is unlawful and can no longer be used.U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgrades to t...
Key takeaway Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgrades to t...
Why this matters in The San Antonio
In Bexar County, where voter turnout has been a subject of concern, the implications of this ruling are significant. The use of the SAVE program to check citizenship could have disproportionately affected certain communities in San Antonio , where a large Hispanic population resides. The potential for wrongly purging voters from the rolls is a concern that resonates deeply in a city where voting rights have been a longstanding issue. With at least 25 states, including possibly Texas, having used the SAVE program to scan voter registrations, it is likely that some San Antonio residents may have been affected. The ruling raises questions about the measures that will be taken to ensure the integrity of voter rolls in Bexar County, and how local election officials will verify the citizenship of voters without relying on a potentially flawed federal database. Local residents will be watching closely to see how this decision plays out in the upcoming elections.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A federal judge on Monday ruled that a recently revamped version of a federal tool central to the Trump administration’s election integrity strategy is unlawful and can no longer be used.U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgrades to t...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ali Swenson And Fatima Hussein, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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