Federal authorities charge 28 people in California for allegedly casting ballots illegally

LOS ANGELES (NBC, KYMA) - Federal authorities announced charges against 28 foreign nationals who allegedly cast ballots illegally in California.

The arrests are part of the Justice Department's (DOJ) efforts to find and crackdown on non-citizen voting.

It is also the latest sign of the escalating fight between the Attorney General's Office and the state of California.

The DOJ has sued the state and warned local elections workers they could face prosecution if they knowingly process ballots submitted by noncitizens.

During a Monday morning news conference, the DOJ insisted their only goal is to clean up voter rolls.

"All we ask in our lawsuit, including in the emergency motion we just filed, is that the court order that the ballots of those individuals be segregated, so we can determine whether they are citizens. If they are, great; they have a right to vote. It will be counted," said Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. "If they are not, they do not have a right to vote, and they have committed a federal crime by attempting to do so."

NBC's Los Angeles affiliate, KNBC, sought comment from the state and local officials, but there was no immediate response.