An Australian national residing legally in the United States for 30 years has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly voting in two presidential elections. Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, faces four counts of illegal voting and making false statements to register to vote, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The charges stem from an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Prosecutors allege that Migliore, born in Sydney, falsely claimed U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in October 2022 and October 2024. She is accused of casting illegal votes on November 8, 2022, and November 5, 2024.
Migliore was arrested at a federal courthouse in New Orleans on July 1. Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, "Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Only Americans should be electing American leaders."
Migliore, who was living in Franklinton, Louisiana, at the time of her arrest, reportedly believed that legal permanent residents could vote. "I have been here almost three decades, I had a pending application for citizenship, and I just considered myself a citizen," she was quoted as saying. "I just didn't realize that it was such a big deal."
If convicted, Migliore could face a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to an Australian citizen in the United States.
President Donald Trump addressed Migliore's arrest on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, "Australian alien arrested after investigation finds she illegally voted in two federal elections." Data analysis has previously indicated that cases of illegal voting by immigrants are rare, despite claims of widespread fraud. Migliore was arrested following an investigation by ICE and the FBI.