{"id":2412866,"date":"2025-03-12T15:28:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T19:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T15:28:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T19:28:02","slug":"d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"D.C. Is Home To 10,000 Spies. Democrats Want To Let Them Vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fd-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2412866&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Voting_is_Sacred_sign_in_Minneapolis,_Minnesota_%2850564042402%29.jpg\"> Lorie Shaull\/ Wikimedia Commons <\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>        <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/03\/12\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=D.C.%20Is%20Home%20To%2010,000%20Spies.%20Democrats%20Want%20To%20Let%20Them%20Vote&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/03\/12\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=D.C.%20Is%20Home%20To%2010,000%20Spies.%20Democrats%20Want%20To%20Let%20Them%20Vote&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/03\/12\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\" https:><\/path><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/03\/12\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=D.C.%20Is%20Home%20To%2010,000%20Spies.%20Democrats%20Want%20To%20Let%20Them%20Vote&amp;body=Democrats%20are%20determined%20to%20extend%20voting%20rights%20to%20noncitizens%20residing%20in%20D.C.,%20and%20potentially%20to%20foreign%20agents.%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/03\/12\/d-c-is-home-to-10000-spies-democrats-want-to-let-them-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &amp; Email\"><span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>Democrats and the D.C. Board of Elections are pushing to allow noncitizens &mdash; including potential foreign spies &mdash; to vote in local elections.<\/p>\n<p>The D.C. Board of Elections will head to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/news-alerts\/appeals-court-to-hear-challenge-to-d-c-noncitizen-voting-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Friday<\/a> to fight to preserve a district law allowing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/07\/10\/theres-only-one-reason-democrats-oppose-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-to-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">noncitizens<\/a>&nbsp;to vote in local elections. The lawsuit centers around the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lims.dccouncil.gov\/Legislation\/B24-0300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">permits noncitizens<\/a>&nbsp;eighteen or older who have lived in D.C. for at least 30 days prior to an election to vote for local officials and on ballot initiatives. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-474553107\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>With an <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/j-j-green-national\/2019\/06\/city-of-secrets-an-estimated-10000-dc-residents-are-spies-heres-how-they-blend-in\/\">estimated<\/a> 10,000 foreign spies operating in Washington D.C. and the U.S. capital also hosting diplomats from foreign and sometimes hostile governments like China, the security risks of such a law are obvious. FBI counterintelligence expert Brian Dugan <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/j-j-green-national\/2019\/06\/city-of-secrets-an-estimated-10000-dc-residents-are-spies-heres-how-they-blend-in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">previously warned<\/a> that foreign adversaries pose an &ldquo;unprecedented&rdquo; threat and that spies often blend into everyday life, posing as students, professors or even neighbors.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, Democrats are determined to extend voting rights to noncitizens residing in D.C., and potentially to agents operating on behalf of foreign governments.<\/p>\n[<strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/03\/17\/letting-noncitizens-vote-in-u-s-elections-is-foreign-interference\/\">Letting Noncitizens Vote In U.S. Elections Is Foreign Interference<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the Federation for American Immigration Reform <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/2023-CAB-001544.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed a lawsuit<\/a> against the D.C. Board of Elections on behalf of multiple D.C. residents. The complaint challenged the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act as unconstitutional and argued the law dilutes the votes of U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Noncitizens do not have a fundamental right to vote in the United States. Nor does any noncitizen,&rdquo; the lawsuit states. &ldquo;By necessary operation, the D.C. Noncitizen Voting Act dilutes the vote of every U.S. citizen voter in the District. Because it does so, the D.C. Noncitizen Voting Act is subject to review under both the equal protection and the substantive due process components of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The suit further alleges the law violates the &ldquo;constitutional right of citizens to govern, and be governed by, themselves, and should be struck down on that basis&rdquo; by allowing noncitizens to &ldquo;hold public office in D.C.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The D.C. Board of Elections in turn defended the law and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/82023-6-7-Defendants-motion-to-dismiss.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contended<\/a> the suit should be tossed because plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge allowing foreigners&rsquo; participation in U.S. elections.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Amy Berman Jackson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/202024-03-20-Opinion-on-order-granting-motion-to-dismiss.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tossed the suit<\/a> last year, arguing plaintiffs failed to show their votes were individually &ldquo;disadvantaged&rdquo; or &ldquo;treated differently than noncitizens&rsquo; votes.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[Plaintiffs] may object as a matter of policy to the fact that immigrants get to vote at all, but their votes will not receive less weight or be treated differently than noncitizens&rsquo; votes,&rdquo; Berman wrote in her opinion. &ldquo;At bottom, they are simply raising a generalized grievance which is insufficient to confer standing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In their appeal, &ldquo;plaintiffs&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydocket.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/2024-08-22-Republican-candidates-and-voters-opening-brief.pdf\">asked<\/a>&nbsp;the D.C. Circuit Court to rule on the matter of standing and the law&rsquo;s constitutionality,&rdquo; according to Democracy Docket.<\/p>\n<p>The Washington Post previously&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/2022\/10\/17\/dc-voting-noncitizens-legislation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">noted<\/a>&nbsp;the law would permit an estimated 50,000 noncitizens to cast a ballot. <\/p>\n<p>In 2023, House Republicans and 42 Democrats tried to <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/02\/10\/house-republicans-block-dc-law-that-would-allow-illegal-residents-to-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">block<\/a> the legislation. However, the resolution <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/03\/14\/illegal-residents-can-now-vote-in-dc-thanks-to-chuck-schumer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expired<\/a> in a Senate committee, meaning the bill became law. House Republicans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/23\/us\/politics\/house-passes-measure-to-repeal-dc-noncitizen-voting-law.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tried again<\/a> last year to bar noncitizens from voting in local D.C. elections. But as my colleague M.D. Kittle <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/07\/10\/theres-only-one-reason-democrats-oppose-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-to-vote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, most House Democrats voted against the measure and the bill died in the Senate. <\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">   Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Brianna Lyman<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-twitter label-sm d-flex align-items-center mt-10\">             <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter me-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>             <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Visit on Twitter<\/span>            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/briannalyman2\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-decoration-none\">@briannalyman2<\/a>           <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/briannalyman\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/china\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">China<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/election-integrity\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">election integrity<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/election-security\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">election security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/foreign-influence\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">foreign influence<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">illegal immigrants<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/illegal-immigration\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Illegal Immigration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/noncitizen-voting\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">noncitizen voting<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/russia\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Russia<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/washington-d-c\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Washington D.C.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Image Credit Lorie Shaull\/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 2.0 Share Share Article on Facebook Share Article on Twitter Share Article on Truth Social Copy Article Link Share Article via Email Democrats and the D.C. Board of Elections are pushing to allow noncitizens \u2014 including potential foreign spies \u2014 to vote in local elections. 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