Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced a new round of arrests targeting foreign nationals accused of illegally casting ballots in U.S. elections, with a heavy cluster of cases tied to Minnesota voter records.
“The pervasive nature of illegal alien election fraud should concern every American,” ICE’s Micah Bock said in a statement.
Among those arrested is Jesus Lopez of Mexico, a green card holder accused of illegally voting in 15 state, primary, and municipal elections between 2000 and 2024. Sirena Prosper of Haiti, previously convicted twice of burglary, larceny, and resisting an officer, is accused of voting in the 2024 presidential election despite already being under a federal deportation order.
Jose Diaz Guandique, a citizen of El Salvador in the country illegally, voted in the 2024 election and was apprehended in October. Alberto Ruiz Ruiz, a citizen of Mexico unlawfully present in the U.S., was also detained in October after voting in 2024.
Minnesota Cases Dominate the List
Several of the arrests trace directly to Minnesota Secretary of State voter records. Sheikhnoor Adbo, a citizen of Somalia and lawful permanent resident, voted in person on November 3, 2020, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Edvile Edmunds, a citizen of Lithuania and lawful permanent resident, surrendered to Homeland Security Investigations agents in August. A subpoena to the Minnesota Secretary of State turned up records showing she voted in person on November 8, 2022, in the state’s general election. Edmunds initially denied ever voting but later admitted to casting a ballot that year.
Paul Kras, a citizen of Germany, was arrested by HSI agents in September for voting in federal elections. Minnesota voter records show he cast ballots in November 2024 and November 2020, despite not being a U.S. citizen.
Joas Habimana, a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who came to the U.S. as a refugee’s child and was granted lawful permanent status, has convictions for aggravated assault, unarmed robbery, drug possession, two counts of assault or assault and battery, disturbing the peace, retail fraud, and disorderly conduct. He unlawfully voted in the 2024 election.
More Cases Nationwide
Jose Gilberto Tejada-Mendez, a citizen of Guatemala who entered the country illegally under the Biden administration and now has a final removal order, admitted to crossing the border and voted illegally in 2026.
Ines Russell-Tuerk, a German citizen and lawful permanent resident, surrendered to HSI agents after illegally voting in 2022. Monica Carzoli Carrillo, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident, admitted to unlawfully voting in 2024. Tito Ngilla, a Kenyan citizen and lawful permanent resident, surrendered to HSI agents in September after unlawfully voting in 2024.
Debra McNeill Palm, a Canadian citizen and lawful permanent resident, unlawfully voted in 2022. Moises Arellano Alba, a Mexican citizen who overstayed his legal entry and has a fraud conviction, voted in 2024. Casandra Guaman, a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident, also voted in 2024.
Ernie David Warkentin, a Canadian citizen and lawful permanent resident, surrendered to HSI agents in September but declined to make a statement; he voted in 2024. Maria Alejandra DekKay, a Venezuelan citizen in the country illegally and currently in custody, voted in 2021. Kadian Hohnson, a Jamaican citizen and lawful permanent resident, is currently in custody after voting in 2024.
These arrests are part of dozens announced nationwide as the Trump administration’s Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security pursue a coordinated crackdown on voter fraud by non-citizens.
“Every illegal vote cancels out a vote of an American citizen. Each and every illegal who voted must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Bock said. “We will end this madness. American elections are for American citizens, period.”
