{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:scotus-26a308-2026-09-25", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:scotus-26a308-2026-09-25)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-10-05", "fingerprint": "ewai:se:5aa9a2", "proof": "sha256:758437e3b812a3075395e0750ff61609f9745bb358e8435d8665bc0d5bdd3343", "jurisdiction": "se", "lang": "en", "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal", "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om" }, "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor", "contact": "stig@valkiv.com" }, "item": { "schema_version": "1.0.0", "id": "us:scotus-26a308-2026-09-25", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor", "contact": "stig@valkiv.com" }, "sections": [ { "title": "", "paragraphs": [ "para_1", "para_2" ] }, { "title": "1Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "No. 26A308", "paragraphs": [ "para_7", "para_8" ] }, { "title": "ON APPLICATION FOR STAY", "paragraphs": [ "para_10", "para_11" ] }, { "title": "Since 1986, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitle-", "paragraphs": [ "para_13", "para_14", "para_15", "para_16", "para_17", "para_18" ] }, { "title": "Last year, the Federal Government expanded SAVE’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_20", "para_21", "para_22", "para_23", "para_24" ] }, { "title": "The Executive Order also directed the Social Security Ad-", "paragraphs": [ "para_26", "para_27" ] }, { "title": "Two months later, DHS launched a modified SAVE pro-", "paragraphs": [ "para_29", "para_30", "para_31" ] }, { "title": "(SSNs)—maintained by SSA. Second, it allowed state and", "paragraphs": [ "para_33", "para_34" ] }, { "title": "Under the modified SAVE program, a state or local", "paragraphs": [ "para_36", "para_37" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [ "para_40", "para_41" ] }, { "title": "SAVE program automatically discloses that information to", "paragraphs": [ "para_43" ] }, { "title": "SSA then discloses its search results to DHS, including the", "paragraphs": [ "para_45", "para_46", "para_47", "para_48", "para_49", "para_50", "para_51", "para_52" ] }, { "title": "Various organizations—including the League of Women", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Voters, its local affiliates, and the Electronic Privacy Infor-", "paragraphs": [ "para_55", "para_56", "para_57", "para_58" ] }, { "title": "Security Act that prohibits the disclosure of SSNs and other", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SSA records. Second, they alleged that the modifications", "paragraphs": [ "para_61", "para_62", "para_63", "para_64", "para_65", "para_66", "para_67" ] }, { "title": "The plaintiff organizations moved for summary judgment", "paragraphs": [ "para_69", "para_70", "para_71" ] }, { "title": "SAVE program did not violate the Social Security Act, Pri-", "paragraphs": [ "para_73", "para_74", "para_75" ] }, { "title": "3Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The District Court agreed with the plaintiff organizations", "paragraphs": [ "para_79", "para_80", "para_81", "para_82" ] }, { "title": "Katsas, J.) also denied the Government’s application for a", "paragraphs": [ "para_84" ] }, { "title": "The Government now seeks a stay from this Court. To", "paragraphs": [ "para_86", "para_87", "para_88", "para_89", "para_90", "para_91" ] }, { "title": "558 U. S. 183, 190 (2010) (per curiam). In “close cases,” we", "paragraphs": [ "para_93", "para_94", "para_95" ] }, { "title": "To start, we consider the likelihood that this Court would", "paragraphs": [ "para_97", "para_98", "para_99", "para_100", "para_101" ] }, { "title": "(D DC), ECF Doc. 16–3, ¶¶2, 14. Had the modified SAVE", "paragraphs": [ "para_103", "para_104", "para_105", "para_106", "para_107", "para_108", "para_109", "para_110", "para_111", "para_112", "para_113", "para_114" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [ "para_117", "para_118", "para_119" ] }, { "title": "The relevant IIRIRA provision, 8 U. S. C. §1373, contains", "paragraphs": [ "para_121", "para_122", "para_123" ] }, { "title": "State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local govern-", "paragraphs": [ "para_125", "para_126", "para_127", "para_128", "para_129" ] }, { "title": "The second, section 1373(b), which is captioned “Additional", "paragraphs": [ "para_131", "para_132", "para_133", "para_134", "para_135", "para_136", "para_137" ] }, { "title": "The “following” activities include “[s]ending such infor-", "paragraphs": [ "para_139", "para_140" ] }, { "title": "By prohibiting interference with the disclosure of infor-", "paragraphs": [ "para_142", "para_143", "para_144", "para_145", "para_146", "para_147", "para_148", "para_149", "para_150" ] }, { "title": "5Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "1373. It is improbable that Congress intended to place offi-", "paragraphs": [ "para_154", "para_155" ] }, { "title": "Code.1", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Lest there be any doubt, section 1373(c) requires DHS to", "paragraphs": [ "para_158", "para_159", "para_160", "para_161", "para_162" ] }, { "title": "SAVE program. In light of these provisions, this Court is", "paragraphs": [ "para_164", "para_165", "para_166" ] }, { "title": "The remaining factors also warrant a grant. We have of-", "paragraphs": [ "para_168", "para_169" ] }, { "title": "604 U. S. 458 (2025); Department of Education v. Career", "paragraphs": [ "para_171", "para_172", "para_173" ] }, { "title": "Federal Government has an obligation to respond to re-", "paragraphs": [ "para_175", "para_176" ] }, { "title": "Federal Government from using the program it believes is", "paragraphs": [ "para_178", "para_179" ] }, { "title": "1 The dissent argues that sections 1373(a) and (b) do not displace laws", "paragraphs": [ "para_181", "para_182", "para_183", "para_184", "para_185", "para_186", "para_187", "para_188", "para_189", "para_190", "para_191" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The plaintiff organizations argue that the Federal Gov-", "paragraphs": [ "para_195", "para_196", "para_197", "para_198", "para_199", "para_200" ] }, { "title": "90 days prior to the date of a primary or general election for", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Federal office, any program the purpose of which is to sys-", "paragraphs": [ "para_203", "para_204", "para_205", "para_206", "para_207", "para_208", "para_209" ] }, { "title": "Court’s order thus inhibits the Federal Government’s ef-", "paragraphs": [ "para_211", "para_212", "para_213", "para_214" ] }, { "title": "For the foregoing reasons, the application for stay pre-", "paragraphs": [ "para_216" ] }, { "title": "Court is granted. The June 22, 2026 order entered by the", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "United States District Court for the District of Columbia in", "paragraphs": [ "para_219", "para_220", "para_221", "para_222", "para_223" ] }, { "title": "2 We will consider the scope of this provision in Republican National", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, et al., No. 25–1017, which asks whether", "paragraphs": [ "para_226", "para_227", "para_228", "para_229" ] }, { "title": "7Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Per Curiam", "paragraphs": [ "para_232", "para_233", "para_234", "para_235", "para_236", "para_237" ] }, { "title": "1Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "No. 26A308", "paragraphs": [ "para_242", "para_243" ] }, { "title": "ON APPLICATION FOR STAY", "paragraphs": [ "para_245" ] }, { "title": "JUSTICE JACKSON, with whom JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR and", "paragraphs": [ "para_247" ] }, { "title": "Since 2005, States have used a Department of Homeland", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Security (DHS) database called Systematic Alien Verifica-", "paragraphs": [ "para_250", "para_251", "para_252" ] }, { "title": "2025, however, DHS and the Social Security Administra-", "paragraphs": [ "para_254", "para_255", "para_256", "para_257", "para_258", "para_259", "para_260", "para_261" ] }, { "title": "The D. C. Circuit denied a stay of the District Court’s or-", "paragraphs": [ "para_263", "para_264", "para_265", "para_266", "para_267", "para_268", "para_269", "para_270", "para_271", "para_272" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "I", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "A", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SAVE is a database that “provides point in time immigra-", "paragraphs": [ "para_278", "para_279" ] }, { "title": "Stay 5 (internal quotation marks omitted). It was created", "paragraphs": [ "para_281", "para_282", "para_283" ] }, { "title": "Reform and Control Act of 1986, §121, 100 Stat. 3391, note", "paragraphs": [ "para_285" ] }, { "title": "7. Since 2005, States have used SAVE for voter-verification", "paragraphs": [ "para_287", "para_288" ] }, { "title": "Until 2025, SAVE did not have access to natural-born cit-", "paragraphs": [ "para_290", "para_291", "para_292", "para_293", "para_294", "para_295" ] }, { "title": "President Trump signed an Executive Order purporting to", "paragraphs": [ "para_297", "para_298", "para_299", "para_300", "para_301", "para_302", "para_303", "para_304", "para_305", "para_306" ] }, { "title": "To comply with the Executive Order, DHS and SSA", "paragraphs": [ "para_308", "para_309" ] }, { "title": "NUMIDENT, to SAVE. NUMIDENT contains information", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "3Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_313", "para_314" ] }, { "title": "(SSNs) but also “names, dates and places of birth, citizen-", "paragraphs": [ "para_316", "para_317" ] }, { "title": "101. With the modified SAVE system, a state user can sub-", "paragraphs": [ "para_319", "para_320", "para_321", "para_322", "para_323", "para_324" ] }, { "title": "Before the overhaul, DHS had recognized SAVE as the", "paragraphs": [ "para_326" ] }, { "title": "Act. That Act requires agencies to publish a so-called sys-", "paragraphs": [ "para_328", "para_329", "para_330", "para_331", "para_332", "para_333", "para_334", "para_335", "para_336" ] }, { "title": "When DHS had modified SAVE in the past, it had pub-", "paragraphs": [ "para_338", "para_339", "para_340", "para_341", "para_342", "para_343" ] }, { "title": "B", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Several organizations (Respondents here) promptly sued", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "DHS and SSA under the Administrative Procedure Act", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "(APA), alleging that the SAVE modifications were arbitrary", "paragraphs": [ "para_348" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_351", "para_352" ] }, { "title": "No. 1:25–cv–3501 (D DC), ECF Doc. 1, ¶¶204–218. In fall", "paragraphs": [ "para_354", "para_355", "para_356" ] }, { "title": "835 F. Supp. 3d, at 102; see Notice of a Modified System of", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Records, 90 Fed. Reg. 48948 (2025); Notice of a Modified", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "System of Records, 90 Fed. Reg. 50879. The SORNs", "paragraphs": [ "para_360", "para_361", "para_362", "para_363", "para_364" ] }, { "title": "So, Respondents filed an amended complaint, further al-", "paragraphs": [ "para_366", "para_367", "para_368" ] }, { "title": "1:25–cv–3501, ECF Doc. 61, ¶204. And they bolstered their", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Privacy Act claims, arguing that SSA’s disclosures of", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "NUMIDENT information did not count as a “routine use”", "paragraphs": [ "para_372", "para_373", "para_374", "para_375", "para_376", "para_377", "para_378", "para_379", "para_380", "para_381", "para_382", "para_383", "para_384", "para_385" ] }, { "title": "Privacy Act. That statutory section provides that", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "5Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_389", "para_390", "para_391", "para_392" ] }, { "title": "It also obligates DHS to respond to state and local officials’", "paragraphs": [ "para_394" ] }, { "title": "The District Court rejected the Government’s argument", "paragraphs": [ "para_396" ] }, { "title": "Act and granted summary judgment to Respondents, con-", "paragraphs": [ "para_398", "para_399" ] }, { "title": "136. The District Court then vacated the modifications to", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SAVE. Id., at 138. At that point, the Government sought", "paragraphs": [ "para_402", "para_403", "para_404" ] }, { "title": "No. 1:25–cv–3501 (D DC, July 8, 2026), App. to Application", "paragraphs": [ "para_406", "para_407", "para_408", "para_409", "para_410" ] }, { "title": "The Government did not take the District Court up on", "paragraphs": [ "para_412", "para_413", "para_414", "para_415", "para_416" ] }, { "title": "1 Specifically, the Government claimed that the confidentiality provi-", "paragraphs": [ "para_418", "para_419" ] }, { "title": "Act of 1935, and the confidentiality provision only restricted disclosures", "paragraphs": [ "para_421", "para_422", "para_423", "para_424", "para_425", "para_426", "para_427" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "(prohibiting States from “systematically remov[ing] the", "paragraphs": [ "para_431", "para_432", "para_433" ] }, { "title": "26–5243 (Sept. 4, 2026), App. 102a; see also id., at 133a", "paragraphs": [ "para_435" ] }, { "title": "The Government now asks this Court to stay the District", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Court’s ruling. Per the oft-repeated stay factors, a stay ap-", "paragraphs": [ "para_438", "para_439", "para_440", "para_441", "para_442", "para_443" ] }, { "title": "II", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The majority concludes that the Government has made", "paragraphs": [ "para_446", "para_447", "para_448", "para_449", "para_450", "para_451", "para_452", "para_453", "para_454", "para_455", "para_456", "para_457", "para_458", "para_459" ] }, { "title": "2 In fact, as the D. C. Circuit recognized, the Government had conceded", "paragraphs": [ "para_461", "para_462", "para_463" ] }, { "title": "3 The per curiam properly rejects the Government’s threshold argu-", "paragraphs": [ "para_465", "para_466" ] }, { "title": "7Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_469", "para_470", "para_471", "para_472", "para_473" ] }, { "title": "Subsections 1373(a) and (b) bar “government entit[ies] or", "paragraphs": [ "para_475", "para_476", "para_477", "para_478", "para_479", "para_480", "para_481", "para_482", "para_483", "para_484", "para_485", "para_486", "para_487", "para_488" ] }, { "title": "Statutory context confirms that this reading is the better", "paragraphs": [ "para_490", "para_491", "para_492" ] }, { "title": "Responsibility Act of 1996, §§404(e), (h), 110 Stat. 3009–", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "546, 3009–665, note following 8 U. S. C. §1324a. But those", "paragraphs": [ "para_495", "para_496", "para_497" ] }, { "title": "4 This means the “impossible predicament” that causes the majority", "paragraphs": [ "para_499", "para_500", "para_501", "para_502", "para_503" ] }, { "title": "DHS and SSA may exchange information consistent with the Social Se-", "paragraphs": [ "para_505", "para_506", "para_507" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_510", "para_511", "para_512" ] }, { "title": "IIRIRA’s enactment history also supports this view. Sec-", "paragraphs": [ "para_514", "para_515", "para_516" ] }, { "title": "104–725, p. 383 (1996); S. Rep. No. 104–249, pp. 19–20", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "(1996). The language Congress ultimately chose sweeps", "paragraphs": [ "para_519", "para_520", "para_521", "para_522" ] }, { "title": "Contemporaneous Executive Branch practice reflects this", "paragraphs": [ "para_524", "para_525", "para_526", "para_527", "para_528", "para_529" ] }, { "title": "Between Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Re-", "paragraphs": [ "para_531", "para_532", "para_533" ] }, { "title": "Finally, “common sense” weighs in favor of this interpre-", "paragraphs": [ "para_535" ] }, { "title": "(BARRETT, J., concurring), because it harmonizes §§1373(a)", "paragraphs": [ "para_537", "para_538", "para_539" ] }, { "title": "SSA the authority to share whatever citizenship infor-", "paragraphs": [ "para_541", "para_542", "para_543", "para_544", "para_545" ] }, { "title": "9Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_548" ] }, { "title": "Court’s recent practice has been to ask for a clear state-", "paragraphs": [ "para_550" ] }, { "title": "West Virginia v. EPA, 597 U. S. 697, 724 (2022) (quoting", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, 573 U. S. 302, 324", "paragraphs": [ "para_553" ] }, { "title": "Inc. v. Trump, 607 U. S 229, 245–246 (2026) (opinion of", "paragraphs": [ "para_555" ] }, { "title": "In response to all this, the per curiam just insists that its", "paragraphs": [ "para_557", "para_558", "para_559", "para_560", "para_561", "para_562", "para_563", "para_564", "para_565" ] }, { "title": "Corp. v. Lewis, 584 U. S. 497, 510 (2018) (internal quotation", "paragraphs": [ "para_567", "para_568", "para_569" ] }, { "title": "As a result, nothing in §1373 authorizes the modified", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "SAVE system or overrides the provisions of the Social Se-", "paragraphs": [ "para_572" ] }, { "title": "Government has violated. And the Government puts for-", "paragraphs": [ "para_574" ] }, { "title": "SAVE in fact complied with the Social Security Act’s confi-", "paragraphs": [ "para_576" ] }, { "title": "26–5243 (CADC, Sept. 4, 2026), App. 113a–120a.5 These", "paragraphs": [ "para_578" ] }, { "title": "5 Recall that the Government failed to argue, at the summary judg-", "paragraphs": [ "para_580", "para_581" ] }, { "title": "Government raised those arguments for the first time in its stay motion", "paragraphs": [ "para_583", "para_584", "para_585" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_588", "para_589", "para_590", "para_591" ] }, { "title": "III", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "As I noted previously, a stay applicant must also show", "paragraphs": [ "para_594", "para_595" ] }, { "title": "Trump v. California, 609 U. S. ___, ___ (2026) (dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_597", "para_598" ] }, { "title": "First, the per curiam finds that the Government is irrep-", "paragraphs": [ "para_600", "para_601" ] }, { "title": "Government has failed to show that modified SAVE com-", "paragraphs": [ "para_603", "para_604" ] }, { "title": "It cannot be that the Government is “injured whenever [it]", "paragraphs": [ "para_606" ] }, { "title": "U. S. ___, ___ (2025) (JACKSON, J., dissenting from grant of", "paragraphs": [ "para_608", "para_609", "para_610", "para_611" ] }, { "title": "616 (1876) (“[H]e who seeks equity at the hands of the court must first", "paragraphs": [ "para_613" ] }, { "title": "6 Notably, however, Respondents’ claim that the Government ignored", "paragraphs": [ "para_615", "para_616" ] }, { "title": "Subsections 1373(a) and (b) apply only to “prohibit[ions]” or “re-", "paragraphs": [ "para_618", "para_619", "para_620", "para_621" ] }, { "title": "Nor do they affect DHS’s ability to respond to citizenship-status inquiries", "paragraphs": [ "para_623", "para_624", "para_625" ] }, { "title": "11Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_628", "para_629", "para_630" ] }, { "title": "Next, in balancing the equities, the majority only looks at", "paragraphs": [ "para_632", "para_633", "para_634", "para_635", "para_636", "para_637", "para_638", "para_639", "para_640", "para_641" ] }, { "title": "No. 26–5243 (CADC, Sept. 4, 2026), App. 131a. It is hard", "paragraphs": [ "para_643", "para_644", "para_645" ] }, { "title": "Even more concerning is the majority’s omission of any", "paragraphs": [ "para_647" ] }, { "title": "SAVE system is allowed to continue operating. See Califor-", "paragraphs": [ "para_649" ] }, { "title": "10). The District Court highlighted such harms, noting the", "paragraphs": [ "para_651", "para_652", "para_653" ] }, { "title": "835 F. Supp. 3d, at 108–109. That court also found that", "paragraphs": [ "para_655", "para_656", "para_657", "para_658", "para_659", "para_660", "para_661", "para_662", "para_663" ] }, { "title": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraphs": [ "para_666" ] }, { "title": "The Government has not shown that it is entitled to the", "paragraphs": [ "para_668" ] }, { "title": "605 U. S., at 963 (JACKSON, J., dissenting) (quoting Graves", "paragraphs": [ "para_670", "para_671", "para_672", "para_673", "para_674", "para_675", "para_676", "para_677", "para_678", "para_679", "para_680", "para_681", "para_682" ] } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "1Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "No. 26A308", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ET AL. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, ET AL.", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "ON APPLICATION FOR STAY", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "[September 25, 2026]", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "PER CURIAM.", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "Since 1986, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitle-", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "ments (SAVE) program has allowed federal, state, and local", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "government agencies to verify the citizenship and immigra-", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "tion status of noncitizens applying for public benefits. For", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "decades, it relied on records maintained by the Department", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice,", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "and the Department of State.", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "Last year, the Federal Government expanded SAVE’s", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "scope. In March 2025, President Trump signed an Execu-", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "tive Order directing DHS to put new systems in place to", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "allow state and local authorities to verify the citizenship", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "status of registered voters and individuals registering to", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "vote. Exec. Order No. 14248, 90 Fed. Reg. 14006 (2025).", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "The Executive Order also directed the Social Security Ad-", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "ministration (SSA) to make its records available to DHS for", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "that purpose. Id., at 14007.", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "Two months later, DHS launched a modified SAVE pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "gram. The modified program differed from the original in", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "two key respects. First, it incorporated checks against ad-", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "ditional records—including social security numbers", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "(SSNs)—maintained by SSA. Second, it allowed state and", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "local authorities to conduct bulk searches of multiple indi-", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "viduals at once.", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "Under the modified SAVE program, a state or local", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "agency seeking to determine an individual’s citizenship", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "2 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "status first uploads the individual’s first name, last name,", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "date of birth, or full or partial SSN to the SAVE portal. The", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "SAVE program automatically discloses that information to", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "SSA, which runs it through its databases to find a match.", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "SSA then discloses its search results to DHS, including the", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "individual’s full name, date of birth, full SSN, and citizen-", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "ship status. Finally, the SAVE portal returns a response to", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "the agency, either confirming that the individual is a citizen", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "or requesting that the agency resubmit its query with addi-", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "tional information. If the modified SAVE program is unable", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "to confirm that an individual is a citizen, the agency is re-", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "quired to contact the individual and request that he provide", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "proof of citizenship to register or remain registered to vote.", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "Various organizations—including the League of Women", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "Voters, its local affiliates, and the Electronic Privacy Infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "mation Center—sued DHS, SSA, and other federal actors", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "to challenge the modified SAVE program. As relevant here,", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "they raised three claims. First, they alleged that the modi-", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "fications violated a confidentiality provision in the Social", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "Security Act that prohibits the disclosure of SSNs and other", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "SSA records. Second, they alleged that the modifications", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "violated substantive and procedural protections in the Pri-", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "vacy Act of 1974, which prohibits the nonconsensual disclo-", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "sure of certain information and requires that agencies com-", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "plete a notice-and-comment process for program", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "modifications. Third, they alleged that the modifications", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "were arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "Procedure Act (APA).", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "The plaintiff organizations moved for summary judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "on all three claims. The Government cross-moved to dis-", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "miss or, in the alternative, for summary judgment, arguing", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "that plaintiffs lacked Article III standing; that the modified", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "SAVE program did not violate the Social Security Act, Pri-", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "vacy Act, or APA; and that Congress had authorized DHS", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "in 8 U. S. C. §1373 to use SSNs and related records notwith-", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "standing any other provision of law.", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "3Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "The District Court agreed with the plaintiff organizations", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "across the board, set aside and vacated the modified SAVE", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "program and its related notices, and denied the Govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "ment’s application for a stay pending appeal. A divided", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "panel of the D. C. Circuit (Srinivasan, C. J., Wilkins, J., and", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "Katsas, J.) also denied the Government’s application for a", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "stay, with Judge Katsas dissenting.", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "The Government now seeks a stay from this Court. To", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "succeed, the Government must establish “(1) a reasonable", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "probability that four Justices will consider the issue suffi-", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "ciently meritorious to grant certiorari; (2) a fair prospect", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "that a majority of the Court will vote to reverse the judg-", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "ment below; and (3) a likelihood that irreparable harm will", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "result from the denial of a stay.’’ Hollingsworth v. Perry,", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "558 U. S. 183, 190 (2010) (per curiam). In “close cases,” we", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "“balance the equities and weigh the relative harms to the", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "applicant and to the respondent.” Ibid. We grant the ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "plication.", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "To start, we consider the likelihood that this Court would", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "reverse. At least one of plaintiffs’ members (J. Doe 4) is", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "registered to vote in a State (Louisiana) that used the mod-", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "ified SAVE program. She has demonstrated that SSA rec-", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "ords do not accurately reflect that she is now a naturalized", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "citizen. Supplemental Decl. of J. Doe in No. 25–cv–3501", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "(D DC), ECF Doc. 16–3, ¶¶2, 14. Had the modified SAVE", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "program not been set aside, she likely would have been re-", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "quired to provide additional proof of citizenship. Such a", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "“need to take . . . affirmative steps to avoid risk of harm . . .", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "constitutes a cognizable injury” supporting standing. Meese", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "v. Keene, 481 U. S. 465, 475 (1987).", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "Although the plaintiff organizations likely have standing,", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "their claims likely lack merit. The plaintiff organizations", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "claim that the federal defendants violated the Social Secu-", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "rity Act, Privacy Act, and APA. In 1996, Congress, how-", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "ever, separately and expressly authorized DHS to request", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "and receive information relating to citizenship and", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "4 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "immigration status from other agencies, including SSA, in", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsi-", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "bility Act (IIRIRA).", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "The relevant IIRIRA provision, 8 U. S. C. §1373, contains", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "two notwithstanding clauses. The first, section 1373(a),", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "provides:", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "“Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal,", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "ment entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "restrict, any government entity or official from sending", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "to, or receiving from, the [DHS] information regarding", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlaw-", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "ful, of any individual.”", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "The second, section 1373(b), which is captioned “Additional", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "authority of government entities,” similarly provides:", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "“Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal,", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit,", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "or in any way restrict, a Federal, State, or local govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "ment entity from doing any of the following with re-", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "spect to information regarding the immigration status,", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "lawful or unlawful, of any individual.”", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "The “following” activities include “[s]ending such infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "mation to, or requesting or receiving such information from,", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "the [DHS].” §1373(b)(1).", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "By prohibiting interference with the disclosure of infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "mation regarding citizenship status to DHS—", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "“[n]otwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "local law”—Congress necessarily authorized DHS to re-", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "quest and receive that information. Otherwise, agencies,", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "entities, and officials could find themselves in the impossi-", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "ble predicament of either disclosing information consistent", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "with section 1373 but in violation of legislation like the So-", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "cial Security Act and Privacy Act or withholding that infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "mation consistent with those Acts but in violation of section", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "5Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "1373. It is improbable that Congress intended to place offi-", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "cials in such a bind when it passed IIRIRA, so section 1373", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "likely supersedes restrictions on disclosure elsewhere in the", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "Code.1", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "Lest there be any doubt, section 1373(c) requires DHS to", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "respond to inquiries from state and local agencies “seeking", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "of any individual.” Considered alongside section 1373’s", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "“notwithstanding” clauses, section 1373(c) appears to con-", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "template an information-sharing regime like the modified", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "SAVE program. In light of these provisions, this Court is", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "likely to reverse the District Court’s holding that the federal", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "defendants violated the Social Security Act, the Privacy", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "Act, and the APA.", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "The remaining factors also warrant a grant. We have of-", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "ten granted certiorari where a lower court has set aside an", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "important federal program. See, e.g., Bondi v. VanDerStok,", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "604 U. S. 458 (2025); Department of Education v. Career", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "Colleges and Schools of Texas, 604 U. S. 1074 (2025). And,", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "on the equities, the Federal Government is likely to suffer", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "irreparable harm absent a stay. Under section 1373(c), the", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "Federal Government has an obligation to respond to re-", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "quests from state and local election officials seeking to ver-", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "ify the citizenship of voters. The order below prevents the", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "Federal Government from using the program it believes is", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "best suited to the task.", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "1 The dissent argues that sections 1373(a) and (b) do not displace laws", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "restricting information sharing with DHS because “[w]hen a law imposes", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "an express restriction on disclosure, it is that law—not an ‘entity,’ ‘offi-", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "cial,’ ‘person,’ or ‘agency’—that is doing the ‘prohibit[ing]’ or ‘re-", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "strict[ing].” Post, at 7 (opinion of JACKSON, J.). But the distinction the", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "dissent draws between laws and those tasked with enforcing them is il-", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "lusory. Sections 1373(a) and (b) prohibit any “entity,” “official,” “person,”", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "or “agency” from “prohibit[ing]” or “in any way restrict[ing]” the request", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "for or receipt of information regarding immigration status. (Emphasis", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "added.) Those prohibitions necessarily include invoking a law to deny a", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "request for or transfer of such information.", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "6 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "The plaintiff organizations argue that the Federal Gov-", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "ernment will not suffer irreparable harm because federal", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "law currently prohibits state and local election authorities", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "from clearing their voter rolls in the weeks leading up to", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "federal elections. The organizations point to the National", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "Voter Registration Act (NVRA), 52 U. S. C. §20507(c)(2)(A),", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "which provides that “[a] State shall complete, not later than", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "90 days prior to the date of a primary or general election for", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "Federal office, any program the purpose of which is to sys-", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "tematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "official lists of eligible voters.”2 To be sure, that moratorium", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "limits the potential impact of staying the District Court’s", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "order in this case. Still, all agree that the order prevents", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "the Federal Government from using the modified SAVE", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "program to conduct individualized inquiries, which are per-", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "mitted under federal law during this period. The District", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "Court’s order thus inhibits the Federal Government’s ef-", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "forts to assist state and local agencies in the proper admin-", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "istration of the midterm elections. Under these circum-", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "stances, the equities weigh in favor of a stay.", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "* * *", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "For the foregoing reasons, the application for stay pre-", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "sented to THE CHIEF JUSTICE and by him referred to the", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "Court is granted. The June 22, 2026 order entered by the", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "United States District Court for the District of Columbia in", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "case No. 25–cv–3501 is stayed pending the disposition of", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "of Columbia and disposition of a petition for a writ of certi-", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "orari, if such a writ is timely sought. Should certiorari be", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "2 We will consider the scope of this provision in Republican National", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, et al., No. 25–1017, which asks whether", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "the NVRA prohibits States from implementing programs within 90 days", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "of federal elections to cancel the registrations of voters who are not U. S.", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "citizens. The parties in this case do not ask us to address that question", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "and have not briefed it, and we do not need to decide it here.", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "7Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "event certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "the sending down of the judgment of this Court.", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "It is so ordered.", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "_________________", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "1Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "No. 26A308", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ET AL. v.", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, ET AL.", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "ON APPLICATION FOR STAY", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "[September 25, 2026]", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "JUSTICE JACKSON, with whom JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR and", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "JUSTICE KAGAN join, dissenting.", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "Since 2005, States have used a Department of Homeland", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "Security (DHS) database called Systematic Alien Verifica-", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "tion for Entitlements (SAVE) to ensure that registered vot-", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "ers are American citizens. For most of its life, SAVE con-", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "sisted almost entirely of immigration records from DHS. In", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "2025, however, DHS and the Social Security Administra-", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "tion (SSA) decided to connect SSA’s database of master", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "files, including all its sensitive information, to SAVE. A", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "group of organizations sued, arguing that the modifications", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "to SAVE violated various federal privacy laws, and that the", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "staleness of SSA’s citizenship records risked disenfranchis-", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "ing recently naturalized U. S. citizens. After months of lit-", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "igation, the District Court agreed and vacated the modifi-", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "cations.", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "The D. C. Circuit denied a stay of the District Court’s or-", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "der while reviewing the pending appeal. But, without full", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "briefing or oral argument, this Court now grants one—ren-", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "dering questionable interim rulings about two statutory", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "provisions it has never before interpreted. The Court also", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "focuses only on the harms the Government will purportedly", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "suffer absent a stay, disregarding the harms that the mod-", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "ified SAVE system has caused, and will likely continue to", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "cause, to lawful voters. The Court thus misuses its equita-", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "ble powers. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "2 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "I", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "A", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "SAVE is a database that “provides point in time immigra-", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "tion status and U. S. citizenship information to federal,", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "state, local, territorial, and tribal agencies.” Application for", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "Stay 5 (internal quotation marks omitted). It was created", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "in 1986 to help States verify eligibility for federally funded", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "benefits like Medicaid and food stamps, which are typically", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "limited to citizens and lawful immigrants. See Immigration", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "Reform and Control Act of 1986, §121, 100 Stat. 3391, note", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "following 42 U. S. C. §1320b–7; see also 42 U. S. C. §1320b–", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "7. Since 2005, States have used SAVE for voter-verification", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "purposes too. Application for Stay 6. Twenty-seven States", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "currently use SAVE for that purpose. Ibid.", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "Until 2025, SAVE did not have access to natural-born cit-", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "izens’ records, and it only accessed immigration and natu-", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "ralization records in DHS’s systems (and occasionally, in", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "systems at the State Department and the Department of", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "Justice). Users could also only conduct individual searches,", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "usually by way of a person’s alien-identification number.", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "835 F. Supp. 3d 79, 102–103 (DC 2026). In 2025, however,", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "President Trump signed an Executive Order purporting to", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "target voting by noncitizens in federal elections that, among", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "other things, directed SSA to share its databases with state", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "and local election officials for the purposes of voter verifica-", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "tion. The Order required this information-sharing even", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "though the Social Security Act dictates that “[s]ocial secu-", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "rity account numbers and related records . . . shall be confi-", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "dential, and no authorized person shall disclose any such", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "social security account number or related record.”", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "42 U. S. C. §405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I); see Exec. Order No. 14248,", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "90 Fed. Reg. 14007 (2025).", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "To comply with the Executive Order, DHS and SSA", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "agreed to overhaul SAVE and link SSA’s master social se-", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "curity files, which are held in a database called", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "NUMIDENT, to SAVE. NUMIDENT contains information", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "3Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "about natural-born U. S. citizens as well as naturalized cit-", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "izens and noncitizens—not just social security numbers", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "(SSNs) but also “names, dates and places of birth, citizen-", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "ship indicators, death records, and information obtained", "paragraph_id": "para_316" }, { "text": "while processing requests for SSNs.” 835 F. Supp. 3d, at", "paragraph_id": "para_317" }, { "text": "101. With the modified SAVE system, a state user can sub-", "paragraph_id": "para_318" }, { "text": "mit bulk queries using full or partial SSNs as well as alien-", "paragraph_id": "para_319" }, { "text": "identification numbers. Id., at 102–103. If a query is in-", "paragraph_id": "para_320" }, { "text": "conclusive, a State might respond by asking the voter to", "paragraph_id": "para_321" }, { "text": "provide proof of citizenship in order to remain registered,", "paragraph_id": "para_322" }, { "text": "and it might strike the voter from the rolls if she fails to", "paragraph_id": "para_323" }, { "text": "timely do so. Id., at 108–109.", "paragraph_id": "para_324" }, { "text": "Before the overhaul, DHS had recognized SAVE as the", "paragraph_id": "para_325" }, { "text": "sort of database that was covered by the federal Privacy", "paragraph_id": "para_326" }, { "text": "Act. That Act requires agencies to publish a so-called sys-", "paragraph_id": "para_327" }, { "text": "tem of records notice (SORN) anytime it “establish[es]” or", "paragraph_id": "para_328" }, { "text": "“modifie[s]” any system of records containing personal iden-", "paragraph_id": "para_329" }, { "text": "tifying information. 5 U. S. C. §552a(e)(4). The agency is", "paragraph_id": "para_330" }, { "text": "then prohibited from disclosing anyone’s information in the", "paragraph_id": "para_331" }, { "text": "system without consent, §552a(b), unless (among other", "paragraph_id": "para_332" }, { "text": "things) the disclosure is for a “routine use,” §552a(b)(3).", "paragraph_id": "para_333" }, { "text": "“[A]t least 30 days prior” to adopting a new routine use,", "paragraph_id": "para_334" }, { "text": "however, the Act requires that an agency publish a SORN", "paragraph_id": "para_335" }, { "text": "and offer a 30-day comment period. §552a(e)(11).", "paragraph_id": "para_336" }, { "text": "When DHS had modified SAVE in the past, it had pub-", "paragraph_id": "para_337" }, { "text": "lished a timely SORN and complied with the Act’s comment", "paragraph_id": "para_338" }, { "text": "requirements. See 835 F. Supp. 3d, at 100 & n. 1. But this", "paragraph_id": "para_339" }, { "text": "time, neither DHS nor SSA published a SORN or invited", "paragraph_id": "para_340" }, { "text": "comments. Instead, on May 22, 2025, they simply an-", "paragraph_id": "para_341" }, { "text": "nounced that the modified SAVE system was ready. See", "paragraph_id": "para_342" }, { "text": "id., at 101.", "paragraph_id": "para_343" }, { "text": "B", "paragraph_id": "para_344" }, { "text": "Several organizations (Respondents here) promptly sued", "paragraph_id": "para_345" }, { "text": "DHS and SSA under the Administrative Procedure Act", "paragraph_id": "para_346" }, { "text": "(APA), alleging that the SAVE modifications were arbitrary", "paragraph_id": "para_347" }, { "text": "4 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_348" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_349" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_350" }, { "text": "and capricious and violated the Privacy Act’s procedural", "paragraph_id": "para_351" }, { "text": "and substantive requirements. Class Action Complaint in", "paragraph_id": "para_352" }, { "text": "No. 1:25–cv–3501 (D DC), ECF Doc. 1, ¶¶204–218. In fall", "paragraph_id": "para_353" }, { "text": "of 2025, DHS and SSA belatedly published SORNs that an-", "paragraph_id": "para_354" }, { "text": "nounced new “routine uses” covering the NUMIDENT in-", "paragraph_id": "para_355" }, { "text": "formation and offered a 30-day comment period.", "paragraph_id": "para_356" }, { "text": "835 F. Supp. 3d, at 102; see Notice of a Modified System of", "paragraph_id": "para_357" }, { "text": "Records, 90 Fed. Reg. 48948 (2025); Notice of a Modified", "paragraph_id": "para_358" }, { "text": "System of Records, 90 Fed. Reg. 50879. The SORNs", "paragraph_id": "para_359" }, { "text": "claimed that the new routine uses would not go into effect", "paragraph_id": "para_360" }, { "text": "for 30 days. Id., at 40849, 50880. But the modified SAVE", "paragraph_id": "para_361" }, { "text": "system (which involved disclosures that were covered by", "paragraph_id": "para_362" }, { "text": "the newly announced routine uses) had already been in op-", "paragraph_id": "para_363" }, { "text": "eration since May. See 835 F. Supp. 3d, at 100–101.", "paragraph_id": "para_364" }, { "text": "So, Respondents filed an amended complaint, further al-", "paragraph_id": "para_365" }, { "text": "leging that the modifications to SAVE violated the Social", "paragraph_id": "para_366" }, { "text": "Security Act’s confidentiality provision at 42 U. S. C.", "paragraph_id": "para_367" }, { "text": "§405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I). First Amended Complaint in No.", "paragraph_id": "para_368" }, { "text": "1:25–cv–3501, ECF Doc. 61, ¶204. And they bolstered their", "paragraph_id": "para_369" }, { "text": "Privacy Act claims, arguing that SSA’s disclosures of", "paragraph_id": "para_370" }, { "text": "NUMIDENT information did not count as a “routine use”", "paragraph_id": "para_371" }, { "text": "under the Act, and regardless, DHS and SSA had unlaw-", "paragraph_id": "para_372" }, { "text": "fully failed to timely publish a SORN, or provide a public", "paragraph_id": "para_373" }, { "text": "comment period, before sharing that information. Id., at", "paragraph_id": "para_374" }, { "text": "¶¶218–235. Respondents also claimed that outdated SSA", "paragraph_id": "para_375" }, { "text": "data put some of their recently naturalized members at risk", "paragraph_id": "para_376" }, { "text": "of either being deregistered to vote or having to verify their", "paragraph_id": "para_377" }, { "text": "citizenship before being allowed to cast ballots in the 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_378" }, { "text": "primary or general elections. Id., at ¶¶168–170.", "paragraph_id": "para_379" }, { "text": "The parties then litigated the case to summary judgment,", "paragraph_id": "para_380" }, { "text": "where the Government asserted that a provision of the Ille-", "paragraph_id": "para_381" }, { "text": "gal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act", "paragraph_id": "para_382" }, { "text": "of 1996 (IIRIRA), 8 U. S. C. §1373, gave DHS and SSA the", "paragraph_id": "para_383" }, { "text": "authority to implement their modifications to SAVE regard-", "paragraph_id": "para_384" }, { "text": "less of the requirements of the Social Security Act and the", "paragraph_id": "para_385" }, { "text": "Privacy Act. That statutory section provides that", "paragraph_id": "para_386" }, { "text": "5Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_387" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_388" }, { "text": "“[n]otwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or", "paragraph_id": "para_389" }, { "text": "local law,” no “government entity” or “official,” “person[,] or", "paragraph_id": "para_390" }, { "text": "agency,” may “prohibit, or in any way restrict,” the ex-", "paragraph_id": "para_391" }, { "text": "change of citizenship information with DHS. §§1373(a)–(b).", "paragraph_id": "para_392" }, { "text": "It also obligates DHS to respond to state and local officials’", "paragraph_id": "para_393" }, { "text": "inquiries regarding a person’s citizenship status. §1373(c).", "paragraph_id": "para_394" }, { "text": "The District Court rejected the Government’s argument", "paragraph_id": "para_395" }, { "text": "that §1373 overrode the Social Security Act and the Privacy", "paragraph_id": "para_396" }, { "text": "Act and granted summary judgment to Respondents, con-", "paragraph_id": "para_397" }, { "text": "cluding that the modified SAVE system violated both laws,", "paragraph_id": "para_398" }, { "text": "as well as the APA. 835 F. Supp. 3d, at 119–120, 130, 134–", "paragraph_id": "para_399" }, { "text": "136. The District Court then vacated the modifications to", "paragraph_id": "para_400" }, { "text": "SAVE. Id., at 138. At that point, the Government sought", "paragraph_id": "para_401" }, { "text": "a stay in the District Court, where it raised several new ar-", "paragraph_id": "para_402" }, { "text": "guments about why the Social Security Act’s confidentiality", "paragraph_id": "para_403" }, { "text": "provision did not apply to the modified SAVE system. See", "paragraph_id": "para_404" }, { "text": "No. 1:25–cv–3501 (D DC, July 8, 2026), App. to Application", "paragraph_id": "para_405" }, { "text": "for Stay 81a–84a (App.) (describing the Government’s argu-", "paragraph_id": "para_406" }, { "text": "ments).1 The District Court denied the stay and refused to", "paragraph_id": "para_407" }, { "text": "consider the forfeited arguments in that posture, but in-", "paragraph_id": "para_408" }, { "text": "vited the Government to raise them via a Rule 52(b) motion", "paragraph_id": "para_409" }, { "text": "to reopen the judgment. See id., at 85a, n. 3.", "paragraph_id": "para_410" }, { "text": "The Government did not take the District Court up on", "paragraph_id": "para_411" }, { "text": "that invitation. Instead, it requested an emergency stay", "paragraph_id": "para_412" }, { "text": "from the D. C. Circuit, even though it was too late for States", "paragraph_id": "para_413" }, { "text": "to use SAVE for systematic voter-list maintenance in ad-", "paragraph_id": "para_414" }, { "text": "vance of the 2026 elections. See 52 U. S. C. §20507(c)(2)(A)", "paragraph_id": "para_415" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_416" }, { "text": "1 Specifically, the Government claimed that the confidentiality provi-", "paragraph_id": "para_417" }, { "text": "sion did not apply because the information disclosed through the modi-", "paragraph_id": "para_418" }, { "text": "fied SAVE system was collected pursuant to the original Social Security", "paragraph_id": "para_419" }, { "text": "Act of 1935, and the confidentiality provision only restricted disclosures", "paragraph_id": "para_420" }, { "text": "of information “obtained or maintained” pursuant to laws enacted “on or", "paragraph_id": "para_421" }, { "text": "after October 1, 1990.” App. 81a–82a; see 42 U. S. C.", "paragraph_id": "para_422" }, { "text": "§405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I). The Government also claimed that NUMIDENT", "paragraph_id": "para_423" }, { "text": "records disclosed through the modified SAVE system did not count as", "paragraph_id": "para_424" }, { "text": "“social security numbers [or] related records” under the provision. App.", "paragraph_id": "para_425" }, { "text": "81a–82a.", "paragraph_id": "para_426" }, { "text": "6 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_427" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_428" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_429" }, { "text": "(prohibiting States from “systematically remov[ing] the", "paragraph_id": "para_430" }, { "text": "names of ineligible voters” from their rolls during the 90", "paragraph_id": "para_431" }, { "text": "days prior to any primary or general election).2 A divided", "paragraph_id": "para_432" }, { "text": "panel of the D. C. Circuit denied the requested stay. No.", "paragraph_id": "para_433" }, { "text": "26–5243 (Sept. 4, 2026), App. 102a; see also id., at 133a", "paragraph_id": "para_434" }, { "text": "(Katsas, J., dissenting).", "paragraph_id": "para_435" }, { "text": "The Government now asks this Court to stay the District", "paragraph_id": "para_436" }, { "text": "Court’s ruling. Per the oft-repeated stay factors, a stay ap-", "paragraph_id": "para_437" }, { "text": "plicant must demonstrate that it is “likely to succeed on the", "paragraph_id": "para_438" }, { "text": "merits” of its appeal, that it will be “irreparably injured”", "paragraph_id": "para_439" }, { "text": "absent a stay, and that the equities weigh in its favor. Nken", "paragraph_id": "para_440" }, { "text": "v. Holder, 556 U. S. 418, 426 (2009) (internal quotation", "paragraph_id": "para_441" }, { "text": "marks omitted); see also Hollingsworth v. Perry, 558 U. S.", "paragraph_id": "para_442" }, { "text": "183, 190 (2010) (per curiam).", "paragraph_id": "para_443" }, { "text": "II", "paragraph_id": "para_444" }, { "text": "The majority concludes that the Government has made", "paragraph_id": "para_445" }, { "text": "the necessary “strong showing” of likely success on the mer-", "paragraph_id": "para_446" }, { "text": "its, Nken, 556 U. S., at 426 (internal quotation marks omit-", "paragraph_id": "para_447" }, { "text": "ted), because two IIRIRA provisions that we have never be-", "paragraph_id": "para_448" }, { "text": "fore interpreted likely authorize the modifications to SAVE", "paragraph_id": "para_449" }, { "text": "and displace any other statutory restrictions on the disclo-", "paragraph_id": "para_450" }, { "text": "sure of citizenship information. See ante, at 4–5; 8 U. S. C.", "paragraph_id": "para_451" }, { "text": "§§1373(a)–(b).3 As the majority sees things, Congress’s", "paragraph_id": "para_452" }, { "text": "“prohibiting interference with the disclosure of information", "paragraph_id": "para_453" }, { "text": "regarding citizenship status to DHS” in §§1373(a) and (b)", "paragraph_id": "para_454" }, { "text": "“necessarily authorize[s] DHS to request and receive that", "paragraph_id": "para_455" }, { "text": "information” from SSA, regardless of whether some other", "paragraph_id": "para_456" }, { "text": "law prohibits disclosure. Ante, at 4. The majority thus", "paragraph_id": "para_457" }, { "text": "treats §1373 as essentially overriding the limits that", "paragraph_id": "para_458" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_459" }, { "text": "2 In fact, as the D. C. Circuit recognized, the Government had conceded", "paragraph_id": "para_460" }, { "text": "that the “90-day limitation was ‘fatal’ to a claim of imminent harm prem-", "paragraph_id": "para_461" }, { "text": "ised on systematic voter-roll maintenance.” No. 26–5243 (CADC, Sept.", "paragraph_id": "para_462" }, { "text": "4, 2026), App. 131a.", "paragraph_id": "para_463" }, { "text": "3 The per curiam properly rejects the Government’s threshold argu-", "paragraph_id": "para_464" }, { "text": "ment that Respondents lack standing to sue. See ante, at 3; see also", "paragraph_id": "para_465" }, { "text": "Application for Stay 11–18.", "paragraph_id": "para_466" }, { "text": "7Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_467" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_468" }, { "text": "privacy laws impose on the sharing of citizenship infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_469" }, { "text": "mation with DHS. But that “back-of-the-napkin assess-", "paragraph_id": "para_470" }, { "text": "ment,” Noem v. Doe, 605 U. S. 961, 962 (2025) (JACKSON, J.,", "paragraph_id": "para_471" }, { "text": "dissenting from grant of stay), is implausible.", "paragraph_id": "para_472" }, { "text": "For starters, the majority misreads the statutory text.", "paragraph_id": "para_473" }, { "text": "Subsections 1373(a) and (b) bar “government entit[ies] or", "paragraph_id": "para_474" }, { "text": "official[s]” (in §1373(a)) and “person[s] or agenc[ies]” (in", "paragraph_id": "para_475" }, { "text": "§1373(b)) from “prohibit[ing], or in any way restrict[ing],”", "paragraph_id": "para_476" }, { "text": "the exchange of citizenship information with DHS, “not-", "paragraph_id": "para_477" }, { "text": "withstanding any other provision” of law. These provisions", "paragraph_id": "para_478" }, { "text": "do not affirmatively grant any power. Nor do they override", "paragraph_id": "para_479" }, { "text": "any explicit statutory limits on information-sharing. Ra-", "paragraph_id": "para_480" }, { "text": "ther, both provisions bar government entities or employees", "paragraph_id": "para_481" }, { "text": "from interfering with otherwise lawful exchanges of citizen-", "paragraph_id": "para_482" }, { "text": "ship information, notwithstanding that such interference", "paragraph_id": "para_483" }, { "text": "may be permitted under some other law. When a law im-", "paragraph_id": "para_484" }, { "text": "poses an express restriction on disclosure, it is that law—", "paragraph_id": "para_485" }, { "text": "not an “entity,” “official,” “person,” or “agency”—that is do-", "paragraph_id": "para_486" }, { "text": "ing the “prohibit[ing]” or “restrict[ing].” Neither §1373(a)", "paragraph_id": "para_487" }, { "text": "nor (b) has anything to say in that circumstance.4", "paragraph_id": "para_488" }, { "text": "Statutory context confirms that this reading is the better", "paragraph_id": "para_489" }, { "text": "one. Another part of IIRIRA lets SSA respond to citizen-", "paragraph_id": "para_490" }, { "text": "ship-status inquiries to verify an individual’s employment", "paragraph_id": "para_491" }, { "text": "eligibility. See Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant", "paragraph_id": "para_492" }, { "text": "Responsibility Act of 1996, §§404(e), (h), 110 Stat. 3009–", "paragraph_id": "para_493" }, { "text": "546, 3009–665, note following 8 U. S. C. §1324a. But those", "paragraph_id": "para_494" }, { "text": "provisions put strict limits on what information SSA can", "paragraph_id": "para_495" }, { "text": "disclose—limits that would be meaningless if §1373 means", "paragraph_id": "para_496" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_497" }, { "text": "4 This means the “impossible predicament” that causes the majority", "paragraph_id": "para_498" }, { "text": "angst—i.e., the problem of agencies being forced to choose between, on", "paragraph_id": "para_499" }, { "text": "the one hand, “disclosing information consistent with section 1373 but in", "paragraph_id": "para_500" }, { "text": "violation of legislation like the Social Security Act and Privacy Act” and,", "paragraph_id": "para_501" }, { "text": "on the other, “withholding that information consistent with those Acts", "paragraph_id": "para_502" }, { "text": "but in violation of section 1373,” ante, at 4–5—is no predicament at all.", "paragraph_id": "para_503" }, { "text": "DHS and SSA may exchange information consistent with the Social Se-", "paragraph_id": "para_504" }, { "text": "curity and Privacy Acts, but may not exchange information in violation", "paragraph_id": "para_505" }, { "text": "of those laws.", "paragraph_id": "para_506" }, { "text": "8 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_507" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_508" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_509" }, { "text": "what the majority says it means. See ibid.; see also", "paragraph_id": "para_510" }, { "text": "835 F. Supp. 3d, at 136; No. 26–5243 (CADC, Sept. 4, 2026),", "paragraph_id": "para_511" }, { "text": "App. 121a.", "paragraph_id": "para_512" }, { "text": "IIRIRA’s enactment history also supports this view. Sec-", "paragraph_id": "para_513" }, { "text": "tion 1373 was passed to respond to a particular problem:", "paragraph_id": "para_514" }, { "text": "state and local agencies refusing to cooperate with federal", "paragraph_id": "para_515" }, { "text": "officials in enforcing immigration laws. See H. R. Rep. No.", "paragraph_id": "para_516" }, { "text": "104–725, p. 383 (1996); S. Rep. No. 104–249, pp. 19–20", "paragraph_id": "para_517" }, { "text": "(1996). The language Congress ultimately chose sweeps", "paragraph_id": "para_518" }, { "text": "more broadly, insofar as it covers federal, state, and local", "paragraph_id": "para_519" }, { "text": "officials alike. But there is no reason to believe that Con-", "paragraph_id": "para_520" }, { "text": "gress meant to repeal laws that would otherwise prohibit", "paragraph_id": "para_521" }, { "text": "federal agencies from disclosing citizenship information.", "paragraph_id": "para_522" }, { "text": "Contemporaneous Executive Branch practice reflects this", "paragraph_id": "para_523" }, { "text": "same understanding. Addressing the provision at issue", "paragraph_id": "para_524" }, { "text": "here, the Office of Legal Counsel once maintained that", "paragraph_id": "para_525" }, { "text": "§1373(a) does “not clearly invest governmental officials or", "paragraph_id": "para_526" }, { "text": "entities with the affirmative authority to disclose infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_527" }, { "text": "mation in circumstances where they otherwise would be", "paragraph_id": "para_528" }, { "text": "prohibited from doing so by a federal statute.” Relationship", "paragraph_id": "para_529" }, { "text": "Between Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Re-", "paragraph_id": "para_530" }, { "text": "sponsibility Act of 1996 and Statutory Requirement for", "paragraph_id": "para_531" }, { "text": "Confidentiality of Census Information, 23 Op. OLC 5 (Supp.", "paragraph_id": "para_532" }, { "text": "1999).", "paragraph_id": "para_533" }, { "text": "Finally, “common sense” weighs in favor of this interpre-", "paragraph_id": "para_534" }, { "text": "tation, Biden v. Nebraska, 600 U. S. 477, 512 (2023)", "paragraph_id": "para_535" }, { "text": "(BARRETT, J., concurring), because it harmonizes §§1373(a)", "paragraph_id": "para_536" }, { "text": "and (b) with existing restrictions on disclosures of citizen-", "paragraph_id": "para_537" }, { "text": "ship information. Under the per curiam’s reading, by con-", "paragraph_id": "para_538" }, { "text": "trast, those provisions trump any such restrictions and give", "paragraph_id": "para_539" }, { "text": "SSA the authority to share whatever citizenship infor-", "paragraph_id": "para_540" }, { "text": "mation it wants. In the three decades since Congress en-", "paragraph_id": "para_541" }, { "text": "acted IIRIRA, the Government has never invoked §1373 in", "paragraph_id": "para_542" }, { "text": "that way—even as it has repeatedly refined the SAVE pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_543" }, { "text": "gram. And when an agency “ ‘claim[s] to discover in a long-", "paragraph_id": "para_544" }, { "text": "extant statute an unheralded power’ representing a", "paragraph_id": "para_545" }, { "text": "9Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_546" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_547" }, { "text": "‘transformative expansion in its regulatory authority,’ ” this", "paragraph_id": "para_548" }, { "text": "Court’s recent practice has been to ask for a clear state-", "paragraph_id": "para_549" }, { "text": "ment, absent from §1373, conferring such a power. See, e.g.,", "paragraph_id": "para_550" }, { "text": "West Virginia v. EPA, 597 U. S. 697, 724 (2022) (quoting", "paragraph_id": "para_551" }, { "text": "Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, 573 U. S. 302, 324", "paragraph_id": "para_552" }, { "text": "(2014); alteration omitted); see also Learning Resources,", "paragraph_id": "para_553" }, { "text": "Inc. v. Trump, 607 U. S 229, 245–246 (2026) (opinion of", "paragraph_id": "para_554" }, { "text": "ROBERTS, C. J.).", "paragraph_id": "para_555" }, { "text": "In response to all this, the per curiam just insists that its", "paragraph_id": "para_556" }, { "text": "interpretation is required by another provision of IIRIRA:", "paragraph_id": "para_557" }, { "text": "§1373(c). Ante, at 5. That provision plainly vests DHS with", "paragraph_id": "para_558" }, { "text": "authority to respond to citizenship-status queries submit-", "paragraph_id": "para_559" }, { "text": "ted by state and local agencies. 8 U. S. C. §1373(c). But it", "paragraph_id": "para_560" }, { "text": "does not empower SSA (or any other non-DHS agency) to do", "paragraph_id": "para_561" }, { "text": "anything, let alone share information that other laws make", "paragraph_id": "para_562" }, { "text": "confidential. And even as to DHS, §1373(c) does not contain", "paragraph_id": "para_563" }, { "text": "the “clearly expressed congressional intention” necessary to", "paragraph_id": "para_564" }, { "text": "displace other laws restricting disclosures. Epic Systems", "paragraph_id": "para_565" }, { "text": "Corp. v. Lewis, 584 U. S. 497, 510 (2018) (internal quotation", "paragraph_id": "para_566" }, { "text": "marks omitted). In fact, just the opposite, insofar as that", "paragraph_id": "para_567" }, { "text": "provision only authorizes disclosures “for . . . purpose[s] au-", "paragraph_id": "para_568" }, { "text": "thorized by law.” §1373(c).", "paragraph_id": "para_569" }, { "text": "As a result, nothing in §1373 authorizes the modified", "paragraph_id": "para_570" }, { "text": "SAVE system or overrides the provisions of the Social Se-", "paragraph_id": "para_571" }, { "text": "curity Act and the Privacy Act that Respondents say the", "paragraph_id": "para_572" }, { "text": "Government has violated. And the Government puts for-", "paragraph_id": "para_573" }, { "text": "ward no nonforfeited arguments that the modifications to", "paragraph_id": "para_574" }, { "text": "SAVE in fact complied with the Social Security Act’s confi-", "paragraph_id": "para_575" }, { "text": "dentiality provision. See Application for Stay 30–33; No.", "paragraph_id": "para_576" }, { "text": "26–5243 (CADC, Sept. 4, 2026), App. 113a–120a.5 These", "paragraph_id": "para_577" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_578" }, { "text": "5 Recall that the Government failed to argue, at the summary judg-", "paragraph_id": "para_579" }, { "text": "ment stage, that the Social Security Act’s confidentiality provision did", "paragraph_id": "para_580" }, { "text": "not apply to the modified SAVE system on its own terms. Instead, the", "paragraph_id": "para_581" }, { "text": "Government raised those arguments for the first time in its stay motion", "paragraph_id": "para_582" }, { "text": "before the District Court. See n. 1, supra. There is little reason to forgive", "paragraph_id": "para_583" }, { "text": "such a forfeiture in the stay context, where the party asking this Court", "paragraph_id": "para_584" }, { "text": "10 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_585" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_586" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_587" }, { "text": "are reasons enough to find that the Government is unlikely", "paragraph_id": "para_588" }, { "text": "to succeed on the merits of its appeal, so I would not reach", "paragraph_id": "para_589" }, { "text": "the Government’s arguments regarding the Privacy Act and", "paragraph_id": "para_590" }, { "text": "the APA.6", "paragraph_id": "para_591" }, { "text": "III", "paragraph_id": "para_592" }, { "text": "As I noted previously, a stay applicant must also show", "paragraph_id": "para_593" }, { "text": "“that it will suffer irreparable harm while the case pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_594" }, { "text": "ceeds, and that, on balance, the equities . . . favor a stay.”", "paragraph_id": "para_595" }, { "text": "Trump v. California, 609 U. S. ___, ___ (2026) (dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_596" }, { "text": "opinion) (slip op., at 6). The majority’s analysis of those fac-", "paragraph_id": "para_597" }, { "text": "tors is faulty.", "paragraph_id": "para_598" }, { "text": "First, the per curiam finds that the Government is irrep-", "paragraph_id": "para_599" }, { "text": "arably harmed absent a stay because the District Court “set", "paragraph_id": "para_600" }, { "text": "aside an important federal program.” Ante, at 5. But if the", "paragraph_id": "para_601" }, { "text": "Government has failed to show that modified SAVE com-", "paragraph_id": "para_602" }, { "text": "ports with the Social Security Act, then disabling the Gov-", "paragraph_id": "para_603" }, { "text": "ernment from using that program is not a cognizable harm.", "paragraph_id": "para_604" }, { "text": "It cannot be that the Government is “injured whenever [it]", "paragraph_id": "para_605" }, { "text": "is prevented from” violating the law. Trump v. Orr, 607", "paragraph_id": "para_606" }, { "text": "U. S. ___, ___ (2025) (JACKSON, J., dissenting from grant of", "paragraph_id": "para_607" }, { "text": "stay) (slip op., at 10); see also California, 609 U. S., at ___,", "paragraph_id": "para_608" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_609" }, { "text": "to exercise its equitable discretion is the party who failed to properly", "paragraph_id": "para_610" }, { "text": "raise its arguments below. See State Railroad Tax Cases, 92 U. S. 575,", "paragraph_id": "para_611" }, { "text": "616 (1876) (“[H]e who seeks equity at the hands of the court must first", "paragraph_id": "para_612" }, { "text": "do equity”); see also Ohio v. EPA, 603 U. S. 279, 298–299 (2024).", "paragraph_id": "para_613" }, { "text": "6 Notably, however, Respondents’ claim that the Government ignored", "paragraph_id": "para_614" }, { "text": "the procedural requirements of the Privacy Act (which it obviously did)", "paragraph_id": "para_615" }, { "text": "should not be affected even under the per curiam’s reading of §1373.", "paragraph_id": "para_616" }, { "text": "Subsections 1373(a) and (b) apply only to “prohibit[ions]” or “re-", "paragraph_id": "para_617" }, { "text": "strict[ions]” on the exchange of citizenship information with DHS. The", "paragraph_id": "para_618" }, { "text": "portions of the Privacy Act requiring agencies to publish SORNs and to", "paragraph_id": "para_619" }, { "text": "provide 30-day comment periods before implementing new routine uses", "paragraph_id": "para_620" }, { "text": "do not “prohibit” or “restrict” anything. See 5 U. S. C. §552a(e)(4), (11).", "paragraph_id": "para_621" }, { "text": "Nor do they affect DHS’s ability to respond to citizenship-status inquiries", "paragraph_id": "para_622" }, { "text": "as required under §1373(c). The per curiam’s failure to grapple with this", "paragraph_id": "para_623" }, { "text": "point is yet another indication that its interpretation of §1373 is mis-", "paragraph_id": "para_624" }, { "text": "taken.", "paragraph_id": "para_625" }, { "text": "11Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_626" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_627" }, { "text": "___–___ (JACKSON, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 8–9). And an-", "paragraph_id": "para_628" }, { "text": "yway, the Government’s purported harm is substantially", "paragraph_id": "para_629" }, { "text": "mitigated by its ability to use the pre-2025 version of SAVE.", "paragraph_id": "para_630" }, { "text": "Next, in balancing the equities, the majority only looks at", "paragraph_id": "para_631" }, { "text": "one side of the scale—the judicial equivalent of expecting a", "paragraph_id": "para_632" }, { "text": "seesaw with weight applied on only one side to work", "paragraph_id": "para_633" }, { "text": "properly. In the per curiam’s view, the sole harm here is", "paragraph_id": "para_634" }, { "text": "that the District Court’s order “inhibits the Federal Govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_635" }, { "text": "ment’s efforts to assist state and local agencies in the proper", "paragraph_id": "para_636" }, { "text": "administration of the midterm elections.” Ante, at 6. As a", "paragraph_id": "para_637" }, { "text": "threshold matter, this overvalues the harm to the Govern-", "paragraph_id": "para_638" }, { "text": "ment, since States cannot use SAVE to systematically", "paragraph_id": "para_639" }, { "text": "strike people from the voter rolls within 90 days of an elec-", "paragraph_id": "para_640" }, { "text": "tion in any event. See 52 U. S. C. §20507(c)(2)(A); see also", "paragraph_id": "para_641" }, { "text": "No. 26–5243 (CADC, Sept. 4, 2026), App. 131a. It is hard", "paragraph_id": "para_642" }, { "text": "to see how the Government is harmed pending the comple-", "paragraph_id": "para_643" }, { "text": "tion of the court proceedings below when SAVE’s applica-", "paragraph_id": "para_644" }, { "text": "tion to the upcoming elections will already be limited.", "paragraph_id": "para_645" }, { "text": "Even more concerning is the majority’s omission of any", "paragraph_id": "para_646" }, { "text": "consideration of the harms that might occur if the modified", "paragraph_id": "para_647" }, { "text": "SAVE system is allowed to continue operating. See Califor-", "paragraph_id": "para_648" }, { "text": "nia, 609 U. S., at ___ (JACKSON, J., dissenting) (slip op., at", "paragraph_id": "para_649" }, { "text": "10). The District Court highlighted such harms, noting the", "paragraph_id": "para_650" }, { "text": "risk that States might cancel the voter registrations of at", "paragraph_id": "para_651" }, { "text": "least some recently naturalized citizens or force such per-", "paragraph_id": "para_652" }, { "text": "sons to provide proof of citizenship before voting.", "paragraph_id": "para_653" }, { "text": "835 F. Supp. 3d, at 108–109. That court also found that", "paragraph_id": "para_654" }, { "text": "those harms have already materialized in Texas, where one", "paragraph_id": "para_655" }, { "text": "of Respondents’ members “had her voter registration re-", "paragraph_id": "para_656" }, { "text": "voked without her knowledge,” and two more “had to pro-", "paragraph_id": "para_657" }, { "text": "vide proof of citizenship to maintain registered voter sta-", "paragraph_id": "para_658" }, { "text": "tus.” Id., at 113. But the per curiam’s purported balancing", "paragraph_id": "para_659" }, { "text": "fails to address, much less account for, the demonstrated", "paragraph_id": "para_660" }, { "text": "harms of issuing a stay. See Orr, 607 U. S., at ___", "paragraph_id": "para_661" }, { "text": "(JACKSON, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 3).", "paragraph_id": "para_662" }, { "text": "12 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY v.", "paragraph_id": "para_663" }, { "text": "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS", "paragraph_id": "para_664" }, { "text": "JACKSON, J., dissenting", "paragraph_id": "para_665" }, { "text": "* * *", "paragraph_id": "para_666" }, { "text": "The Government has not shown that it is entitled to the", "paragraph_id": "para_667" }, { "text": "“ ‘extraordinary’ ” remedy of a stay pending appeal. Doe,", "paragraph_id": "para_668" }, { "text": "605 U. S., at 963 (JACKSON, J., dissenting) (quoting Graves", "paragraph_id": "para_669" }, { "text": "v. Barnes, 405 U. S. 1201, 1203 (1972) (Powell, J., in cham-", "paragraph_id": "para_670" }, { "text": "bers)). But if there is a bright side to today’s opinion decid-", "paragraph_id": "para_671" }, { "text": "ing otherwise, it is that the per curiam will likely have min-", "paragraph_id": "para_672" }, { "text": "imal short-term impact, as States will at most conduct", "paragraph_id": "para_673" }, { "text": "individualized voter-roll maintenance using the modified", "paragraph_id": "para_674" }, { "text": "SAVE system ahead of the November elections. See ante,", "paragraph_id": "para_675" }, { "text": "at 6. In my view, however, the harm caused by burdening", "paragraph_id": "para_676" }, { "text": "or disenfranchising even a few lawful voters outweighs the", "paragraph_id": "para_677" }, { "text": "nonexistent harm that the Government experiences when", "paragraph_id": "para_678" }, { "text": "it is prevented from taking an action that it likely lacks the", "paragraph_id": "para_679" }, { "text": "authority to take. 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