Department of Justice · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
The Justice Department announced indictments in "Operation Ghostbusters," a nationwide investigation into a significant student-loan fraud scheme. Criminal actors allegedly used stolen U.S. identities to create over 830,000 fraudulent Federal Student Aid accounts, enrolling "ghost students" and diverting nearly $130 million in loans and grants to foreign actors and U.S.-based money mules, including Kenyan nationals. This action addresses widespread financial deception impacting federal aid programs.
Department of Justice · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
The U.S. Attorney's Office and SBA Office of Inspector General launched "Operation No Doze," a nationwide initiative to combat fraud in federal pandemic-relief programs like PPP, EIDL, and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. This effort, part of Oregon's Government Fraud Task Force, has already led to multiple criminal and civil actions, including indictments for bank and wire fraud related to false statements. The operation aims to recover misused funds and hold perpetrators accountable for exploiting critical aid programs.
United States Department of Justice · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
The U.S. Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division, in collaboration with U.S. Attorney's Offices, has announced indictments in "Operation Ghostbusters," a nationwide investigation into a large-scale student-loan fraud scheme. The scheme involved creating fraudulent Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) accounts using stolen U.S. citizen identities to enroll "ghost students" in educational institutions, with links to a Kenyan network.
United States Department of Justice · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
The Justice Department announced indictments against 18 additional individuals in North Carolina for allegedly illegally voting in the 2024 election, bringing the statewide total to 30 indicted this year. The charges include falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register and vote.
United States Department of Justice · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
The Justice Department announced indictments in a nationwide 'ghost student' fraud scam, which is linked to a Kenyan network. This federal action addresses a significant fraud scheme with national reach.
Al Jazeera / Reuters · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
A U.S. District Judge has rejected a Department of Justice request to temporarily prevent California from counting mail ballots from a list of 20,000 alleged noncitizens, just six days before the midterm elections. Judge David Carter's ruling on Wednesday stated that the federal government's last-minute request would 'wreak havoc' on democracy and ran afoul of constitutional principles mandating state control over elections. The decision marks a setback for the Trump administration's expanded efforts to identify potential noncitizen voters, which has included issuing over 100 subpoenas in at least 13 states. The Justice Department has swiftly appealed the decision to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Election Law Blog · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
A federal district court has denied the Department of Justice's (DOJ) request for a temporary restraining order that would have compelled California to segregate ballots from alleged noncitizens. The court ruled against the federal government on all issues, with Judge Carter stating that the DOJ's plan, based on an unreliable list, would cause election administration chaos and likely disenfranchise voters. The decision emphasizes California's sovereignty in managing its election procedures.
CalMatters · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
A U.S. District Judge rejected the Trump administration's request to segregate approximately 20,000 mail ballots in California. The judge cited a "broad, ongoing pattern of attempted election interference" and constitutional principles granting states control over elections, stating that the request could disenfranchise voters and cause chaos. This decision upholds state authority in election processes.
American Civil Liberties Union / CalMatters · 2026-10-29T00:00:00.000Z
A coalition of civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), has filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The lawsuit alleges that the agencies are systematically targeting, investigating, and intimidating naturalized U.S. citizens through an "Unlawful Voter Initiative," potentially violating voting rights. This action follows a federal judge's recent rebuff of the Trump administration's attempt to set aside California ballots, citing faulty data and the risk of disenfranchising naturalized citizens.
Democracy Now! · 2026-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to restore a Biden-era rule that allowed immigration judges to temporarily suspend certain deportation cases, a practice known as 'administrative closure'. The unsigned order rejected a request from three U.S. cities with large immigrant populations—Baltimore, Columbus, Ohio, and New Haven, Connecticut—to reinstate the policy.