The Department of Justice has filed charges against 16 individuals across several states in relation to alleged illegal voting, improper voter registration, and various election-related offenses. This includes accusations that some noncitizens voted in federal elections.
In a statement on social media, the DOJ cautioned that some of those indicted supposedly participated in the elections of 2022 and 2024, urging others not to engage in unlawful voting practices in the United States. They stated, “Let this be a warning to ANYONE trying to cheat and undermine our elections. Spread the word!”
The charges involve eight noncitizens from Texas, with additional defendants located in states like Idaho, Georgia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Michigan. Allegations range from voting as noncitizens to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship for voter registration and other misleading statements regarding naturalization.
During their investigations, the DOJ also identified potential cases of passport and ID fraud, wire fraud, and some firearm-related issues.
One notable case involves Santana Coulibaly, a lawful permanent resident in New Jersey, arrested for voting in two federal elections and casting a provisional ballot for the 2024 Presidential election.
These cases fit into a larger enforcement initiative from the Trump administration, focusing on alleged illegal voting and electoral misconduct.
In Georgia, the DOJ has charged Analiea Milliscent Eccles, a Venezuelan national and DACA recipient, with voting nine times between 2008 and 2024 after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. In Idaho, Avila Gomez, a Mexican national, stands accused of the same, registering to vote under false pretenses before voting in the elections of May 2022 and November 2024.
Additional cases involve individuals like Monica Carzoli, a Mexican national, and Julieta Englestad, a Colombian national, both charged with falsely asserting U.S. citizenship while registering to vote.
The indictment also contains charges related to wire fraud and issues tied to passports and identification documents.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald from the DOJ’s Fraud Division stated that this initiative has led to charges against 50 noncitizens for illegal voting thus far. He remarked, “America’s elections are for Americans.”
In an interview, Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, mentioned an ongoing investigation into these matters. He reported over 1,620 cases are currently open, with 151 arrests made, as authorities delve into more than 300,000 suspected incidents—a number he indicated is still rising.
Mullin emphasized the seriousness of the situation, asserting that “every single vote that was at the hands of an illegal [immigrant] canceled out a citizen that was legally registered and able to vote.” He added that the scale of 300,000 inquiries and the ongoing investigations is, indeed, unacceptable.
The Justice Department underscored that the charges are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
