The Department of Justice has charged 16 people across seven states with illegal voting, voter registration fraud and related election crimes, including several cases where noncitizens are accused of casting ballots in federal elections.
Eight of the defendants, all noncitizens, were charged in Texas. The remaining cases span Idaho, Georgia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Michigan. The charges cover noncitizens voting in federal elections, false claims of US citizenship to register or vote, and false statements tied to naturalization applications. Investigators also say they uncovered passport and identification fraud, wire fraud, and firearm-related offenses along the way.
DOJ posted a blunt warning on social media after the announcement: “Let this be a warning to ANYONE trying to cheat and undermine our elections. Spread the word!” Officials said some of those charged allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
The Cases
In Georgia, prosecutors say Analiea Milliscent Eccles, a Venezuelan national and DACA recipient, voted nine times between 2008 and 2024. She’s charged with voting as a noncitizen and falsely claiming US citizenship to vote.
In Idaho, Avila Gomez, a Mexican national, is accused of falsely claiming US citizenship to register and then voting in May 2022 and November 2024. That indictment also includes wire fraud and passport, identification-document and firearm-related charges.
In New Jersey, Santana Coulibaly, a lawful permanent resident, registered to vote in 2016, voted in federal elections in 2018 and 2020, and submitted a provisional ballot in the 2024 presidential race. She also faces allegations tied to statements made on her naturalization applications.
A Bigger Number Behind the Headlines
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the DOJ’s Fraud Division told Fox News the Trump administration has now charged 50 noncitizens with illegal voting overall.
“America’s elections are for Americans,” McDonald said.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the broader investigation goes much further than the charges announced Friday. He said DHS has more than 1,620 open cases and has made 151 arrests so far, and is examining more than 300,000 suspected cases — a number he said keeps growing.
“Every single vote that was at the hands of an illegal [immigrant], canceled out a citizen that was legally registered and able to vote,” Mullin said. “One is too many, but the fact that we have 300,000 cases we’re looking into right now and 1,620 cases that are under investigation, and 151 arrests is unacceptable.”
The Justice Department stressed that the charges are accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
