Charges Filed Against Green Card Holders for Illegal Voting

On Friday, federal authorities revealed that four green card holders in New Jersey have been separately charged with illegally voting in a federal election and making false claims about their voting history while seeking U.S. citizenship.

The individuals charged are David Niewiley, 73; Jacen Beadle Exum, 70; Idan Cholesh, 43; and Abhinandan Vig, 33. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, they were registered to vote under the pretense of being U.S. citizens.

Niewiley allegedly voted in both the 2020 and 2024 general elections, which include the presidential election. Beadle Exum and Vig reportedly participated in the 2020 election, while Cholesh is accused of voting in the 2022 general election, including the Lok Sabha election.

Each defendant reportedly swore under penalty of perjury during their naturalization application that they would refrain from registering or voting in federal elections.

Niewiley made his initial appearance in federal court on April 22, while Cholesh, Vig, and Beadle Exum appeared on May 1.

Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal and certain parliamentary elections, with limited exceptions. Those found guilty of violating this law could face fines, up to one year in prison, or both. Interestingly, some places like Washington D.C. and certain municipalities in California, Vermont, and Maryland permit noncitizen voting in specific local elections.

Additionally, federal law makes it illegal to obtain or help others illegally gain U.S. citizenship, which may carry heavier penalties, including substantial fines and at least 10 years of imprisonment. It’s also a crime to falsely swear an oath to gain naturalization.

Studies have shown that non-citizen voting is relatively uncommon, although it has the potential to affect election outcomes in specific circumstances.

Recently, the Protecting American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act was introduced, calling for proof of citizenship for voter registration and requiring photo identification to vote in federal elections. This legislation has faced accusations of being an attempt at voter suppression, particularly from some Democratic leaders.

In a related context, former President Donald Trump advocated on March 12 for immediate legislation to safeguard U.S. elections from illegal voting. Citing various reports, he referenced a Pew Research Center poll indicating substantial public support for requiring government-issued photo IDs for voting.