Arizona’s 15 counties are collaborating with DHS to remove nearly 50,000 "federal-only" voter registrants who lack proof of U.S. citizenship (DPOC) for state/local elections, following a lawsuit by conservative group America First Legal. A 2024 settlement requires counties — including Maricopa — to verify citizenship via DHS databases, enforcing Arizona’s 2004 DPOC law. Critics argue this is voter suppression, while supporters call it necessary for election integrity. The move follows Arizona’s history of voter fraud claims (largely unsubstantiated) and Republican-led election reforms, spurred by controversies like the 2020 election and Kari Lake’s 2022 gubernatorial loss. Democrats and civil rights groups warn the purge could disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly lower-income and rural residents, due to logistical barriers in obtaining DPOC.