Department of Justice changed its stance on the voter ID law in Texas. The law require voters to show government-issued photo ID such as driver’s license, passport or other ID before they cast a ballot.
Department of Justice under Obama administration has sued Texas to block the 2011 law, according to New York Times. The Obama administration argued that the law discriminated minority voters because they lacked the required ID.
Backed by civil right movement, Obama administration filed a complaint to the court of appeal. Last year, the Federal Court Appeals ruled against Texas. The court order the voter ID law to be softened. However, after President Trump took the office, he has taken a firm stance against illegal immigrant. President Trump has also accused some illegal immigrant to vote against him in the presidential election.
For the reason, President Trump’s Department of Justice has taken a different view on the Texas voter ID law. According to Texas Tribune, the president’s administration has confirmed on Monday, Feb. 27 to drop the key claim against the strictest voter identification law in America.
With this decision, the law that is known as Senate Bill 14 has been dropped from the allegation to deliberately discriminate the voters. Following the drop of the claim, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton welcomed the decision saying, “It’s great for a Justice Department to let the Legislature deal with our own problems."
On the other hand, the groups that previously supported federal lawsuit against Texas lamented the decision. Deputy Director of the Campaign Legal Center Danielle Lang said to continue pressing charges without the help from government. He said to continue arguing with the same claims.
Texas issued the Senate Bill 14 as a preventive measure to avoid illegal voters to cast the ballot. However, liberals argued the measure has inhibited the voting rights of minority, including illegal immigrants to vote.
Watch the Texas Attorney General Paxton’s interview with Fox News regarding the voter ID law below:
