Justice Department Targets Unlawful Voting by Noncitizens

The U.S. Justice Department is making it clear to noncitizens thinking about voting in the upcoming midterm elections that it’s serious about the law. They’ve charged 64 foreign nationals across 17 states for the offense of unlawful voting.

This figure, which was highlighted in a recent report, indicates a push by federal prosecutors to strengthen the enforcement of election integrity.

Leading the pack is Minnesota, where 11 individuals have been charged. Pennsylvania follows closely with 10, then Texas with 9 and Louisiana with 5. Meanwhile, New Jersey, California, and Florida have 4 each, according to the latest counts from the DOJ.

As reported, this nationwide initiative comes as federal officials ramp up their examination of voter-registration protocols ahead of the November elections. Previous elections have shown that just a handful of illegal votes can sway the results.

The report also featured a map pinpointing the highest numbers of defendants and noted that since Trump took office in 2025, around 104 people have faced charges related to voting fraud.

“Every illegal vote undercuts the vote of a legitimate American citizen,” a DOJ spokesperson remarked, pointing to the close race in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in 2020, which was decided by a mere six votes.

These cases represent a range of issues beyond just noncitizen voting. Allegations include fraudulent registration applications and ballots cast in multiple elections.

Examples of recent defendants vary widely, from a Filipino woman voting in Pennsylvania to a green card holder from Ghana in Minnesota who falsely claimed to be a citizen to vote in the state’s primary in 2026.

The DOJ spokesperson issued a caution to anyone thinking about breaking election laws.

“Voting by noncitizens and other ineligible voters is a federal crime,” the representative said. “The department will pursue these cases relentlessly, whether involving one illegal ballot or many.”

Voting as a noncitizen in a federal election constitutes a federal crime, carrying a penalty of up to a year in prison, a fine, or both. The more serious offense of falsely claiming citizenship to register or vote can lead to up to five years in prison.