U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced a new series of arrests involving foreign nationals accused of voting illegally in American elections, as the Trump administration intensifies its investigation of suspected voter fraud ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The cases involve individuals who allegedly participated in federal, state, and local elections despite lacking U.S. citizenship. According to ICE, those identified include both lawful permanent residents holding green cards and foreign nationals residing in the country illegally.

One of the individuals named by federal authorities is Jesus Lopez, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident who allegedly cast ballots in 15 separate elections between 2000 and 2024. The elections reportedly included state races, party primaries, and municipal contests, according to information reported Monday by Breitbart News.

ICE also announced allegations against Sirena Prosper, a Haitian national accused of unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election despite being subject to a final order of deportation.

Federal immigration officials said Prosper has a criminal history that includes two burglary convictions, as well as convictions for larceny and resisting a law enforcement officer.

“The pervasive nature of illegal alien election fraud should concern every American,” ICE Public Affairs Assistant Director Micah Bock said in a statement.

Another individual identified by the agency is Jose Diaz Guandique, a citizen of El Salvador who allegedly voted unlawfully in the 2024 election. Immigration authorities apprehended him in October.

Alberto Ruiz Ruiz, a Mexican national who was allegedly living in the United States without legal authorization, was also taken into custody in October after investigators accused him of participating in the 2024 election.

Several of the cases originated in Minnesota, where federal investigators examined state election records and identified foreign nationals suspected of voting despite being ineligible because they were not American citizens.

Among them is Sheikhnoor Adbo, a Somali citizen with lawful permanent resident status. ICE said records maintained by the Minnesota secretary of state indicate that Adbo voted in person during the November 2020 election.

Edvile Edmunds, a Lithuanian national and green card holder, surrendered to Homeland Security Investigations agents in August after investigators obtained documentation indicating that she had voted in Minnesota’s 2022 general election.

According to federal authorities, Edmunds initially denied participating in the election but subsequently acknowledged that she had cast a ballot.

Paul Kras, a German citizen, was arrested in September after investigators reviewed Minnesota voting records that allegedly showed his participation in both the 2020 and 2024 elections, despite his lack of U.S. citizenship.

ICE also identified Monica Carzoli Carrillo, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident who authorities said admitted to voting illegally during the 2024 election.

The agency reported additional investigations involving citizens of Guatemala, Kenya, Canada, Venezuela, Jamaica, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, indicating that the enforcement effort extends beyond any single state or nationality.

The latest allegations are part of a considerably larger federal effort involving ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Justice Department. Investigators have been examining voter registration records, citizenship information, and election participation histories to identify individuals suspected of violating federal voting laws.

The enforcement campaign has expanded rapidly in recent months. An investigation published by Reuters last week found that the Trump administration had issued more than 100 subpoenas seeking information about tens of thousands of voters across at least 13 states. At least 49 of those subpoenas were issued through federal grand juries, indicating their connection to criminal investigations.

Federal authorities have also pursued cases in California, where the Justice Department announced charges against 28 lawful permanent residents in October. Those defendants were accused of unlawfully voting or making false statements in connection with elections or citizenship paperwork.

The administration’s efforts have generated disputes with state election officials over access to voter records and the accuracy of federal citizenship screening. On Monday, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to intervene in a California case involving more than 20,000 registered voters whose citizenship status federal officials have questioned.

Although federal authorities have identified additional suspected violations, the allegations do not establish that everyone named committed an election offense. Some investigations remain pending, and studies of past elections have generally found that voting by noncitizens is uncommon.

Federal law prohibits noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents, from voting in federal elections. State and local election rules vary, although the overwhelming majority of American elections likewise restrict voting to citizens.

Bock said ICE intends to continue pursuing suspected violations and called for the strongest available penalties against those found responsible.

“Every illegal vote cancels out a vote of an American citizen,” Bock said. “Each and every illegal who voted must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We will end this madness. American elections are for American citizens, period.”

{Matzav.com}