Kris Kobach, a staunch anti-immigrant proponent, was appointed vice chairman of a voter fraud commission by President Trump. Kobach has a history of advocating for stricter voting identification laws and acted as legal counsel for the anti-immigrant group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). In fact, he was also the architect of Arizona SB 1070, often referred to as the “Papers Please” law, which mandated that all people living in Arizona needed to carry documentation with them at all times.
The commission was created on Thursday, May 11th when President Trump signed an executive order, entitled “Presidential Executive Order on the Establishment of Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.” The order stipulates that the commission will study “vulnerabilities in voting systems and practices used for Federal elections that could lead to improper voter registrations and improper voting, including fraudulent voter registrations and fraudulent voting” among other functions. There are no mentions of investigating voter suppression laws which make it more difficult for immigrant communities and communities of color to vote. The commission will be headed by Vice President Mike Pence.
It is clear from Kobach’s previous anti-immigrant policies that he will advocate for stricter legislation that will likely keep immigrants from voting and having their voice heard in federal elections.
