Evidence mounts of noncitizens reaching voter rolls, casting ballots as DOJ speeds crackdown
Federal authorities are stepping up efforts to remove noncitizens from U.S. voter rolls and prosecute those who register or cast ballots in federal elections, with a sharp rise in cases in recent months.
The Justice Department has reported roughly two dozen arrests, prosecutions, or convictions tied to illegal noncitizen voting since early 2026, alongside about 90 additional investigations underway. Officials describe the problem as more widespread than previously acknowledged, citing hundreds of thousands of deceased individuals still listed on rolls, tens of thousands of noncitizens improperly registered, and numerous instances where noncitizens actually voted.
Recent cases highlight the trend across multiple states:
A Mexican-born former mayor of a small Kansas town pleaded guilty to illegal voting as a noncitizen.
A 66-year-old woman from the Philippines living in Hawaii was charged with voting in the 2022 general election and a 2024 primary.
Two Pakistani men in New Jersey faced indictment for fraudulent voting in a federal election and false statements.
An Australian resident in Louisiana was arrested for voting multiple times.
A Chinese student at the University of Michigan surrendered after allegedly registering and voting in the 2024 general election.
In Florida, three noncitizens—including individuals from Cuba, Haiti, and Brazil—admitted to knowingly voting in federal elections in 2020 or 2024.
A Canadian man in North Carolina received a prison sentence for false claims of citizenship to vote over many years.
A watchdog group documented nearly 400 noncitizens voting in Washington, D.C., during the 2024 general election.
The Justice Department has formally notified all 50 states that election officials could face criminal charges if they knowingly allow noncitizens to register or vote in federal elections. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that permitting noncitizens to vote in federal contests is not only poor policy but a crime the department will prosecute, including against officials who fail to act after being informed of violations.
Some states have cooperated with federal reviews and identified between 20,000 and 30,000 noncitizens on their rolls. Other states, however, have resisted such examinations. Officials believe the nationwide total of noncitizens improperly on voter rolls could climb into the hundreds of thousands.
The push comes amid ongoing debates over election security measures, including voter ID requirements, and efforts to strengthen federal law requiring citizenship for voting in national elections. Noncitizens who vote illegally risk prosecution, removal from the country, and damage to any future immigration or citizenship applications.
This wave of enforcement marks a departure from the relative rarity of such federal cases in prior years.
