U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to create separate citizenship registries for each state has sparked legal and political controversy. The initiative, announced through an executive order signed in March, directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of citizens to prevent non-citizens from voting. However, the Justice Department admitted in court that such lists could be unreliable, as there is little evidence of non-citizens voting in U.S. elections. The case is now being heard in the federal district court in Washington.

The report highlights practical and legal obstacles to the plan. The United States lacks a national ID system, and only about half of Americans hold passports. Social Security cards are not proof of citizenship, and there is no central index of naturalization records. Lawyers have argued that creating such a list could violate the 1974 Privacy Act, which restricts data sharing between agencies without consent. Judge Carl J. Nichols said it was too early to determine whether the law would be violated.

Experts warn that an inaccurate database could harm both citizens and non-citizens by undermining their rights. The initiative is part of broader Trump administration efforts to reshape U.S. citizenship policy, including attempts to alter birthright citizenship and revoke naturalized citizenships.