# Supreme Court blocks Trump bid to separate noncitizen ballots in California

> The court swiftly rejected an emergency request to set aside up to 20,000 mail-in ballots, dealing another blow to the administration's election intervention efforts.
- Title: Supreme Court blocks Trump bid to separate noncitizen ballots…
- Summary: The court swiftly rejected an emergency request to set aside up to 20,000 mail-in ballots, dealing another blow to the administration's election intervention…
- Keywords: supreme court, trump administration, california, noncitizen voters, election litigation, mail-in ballots, 2026 election, politics, news, Supreme, Court, blocks
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/rejects-trump-effort-target-alleged-noncitizen-voters-california-midte-rcna606607
- Author: Lawrence Hurley
- Published: 2026-11-03T00:20:41.473+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: supreme court, trump administration, california, noncitizen voters, election litigation, mail-in ballots, 2026 election, politics, news
## Supreme Court rejects Trump's ballot request
The Supreme Court on Monday swiftly rejected the Trump administration's emergency request that California separate out up to 20,000 mail-in ballots allegedly from noncitizens.
## Court acted without hearing California's side
The court rejected the request so quickly it did not even ask California for its views first, as it normally does of the opposing party in such cases.
## Lower courts had already ruled against Trump
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's claims, saying there was no evidence Congress intended federal law barring noncitizens from voting to pre-empt state election laws.
## California says noncitizen voting is already illegal
California officials resisted the Justice Department's intervention, noting that it is already illegal under state law for noncitizens to vote and expressing skepticism about federal government information accuracy.
## Trump administration threatened prosecution
The administration warned California election officials they could face prosecution if they allow noncitizens to vote. A federal judge told the Justice Department on Saturday to stop making such threats.
## Trump's noncitizen voting claims lack evidence
Trump has long claimed, without evidence, that millions of noncitizens illegally vote in U.S. elections. Experts say it rarely happens.
## Federal effort already faced setbacks
When the federal government said it had confirmed 185 noncitizens registered to vote in Nevada, the state responded that all of them were, in fact, citizens.
## Ballots already processed cannot be separated
Thousands of mail-in ballots have already been submitted and processed in California. Once officials check validity by signature, identifying details are discarded before counting, making retroactive identification impossible.
## California vows to keep fighting federal pressure
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the decision should end the administration's attempt to disrupt elections through emergency court orders, but added the state will remain vigilant against federal efforts to undermine democracy.

> This latest decision should put an end to the administration's attempt to disrupt California's elections through emergency court orders.
## Key takeaway

The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's emergency request to separate up to 20,000 California mail-in ballots allegedly from noncitizens, marking another legal defeat in its election intervention efforts.