The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced charges against 16 individuals across multiple states for alleged illegal voting, voter registration fraud, and other election-related crimes. The charges include instances where non-citizens are accused of casting ballots in federal elections.
The DOJ issued a warning on social media, stating that some of the charged defendants allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections. The department cautioned against any attempts to illegally participate in U.S. elections.
"Let this be a warning to ANYONE trying to cheat and undermine our elections," the DOJ wrote. "Spread the word!"
According to the department, eight non-citizens residing in Texas were charged. Additional cases involve defendants in Idaho, Georgia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Michigan. The allegations encompass noncitizens voting in federal elections, making false claims of U.S. citizenship to register or vote, and submitting false statements related to naturalization processes.
Investigations also reportedly uncovered alleged passport and identification fraud, wire fraud, and firearm-related offenses.
In Georgia, Analiea Milliscent Eccles, identified as a Venezuelan national and DACA recipient, is accused of voting nine times between 2008 and 2024. She faces charges of voting as a noncitizen and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote.
Avila Gomez, a Mexican national residing in Idaho, is accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote and subsequently voting in May 2022 and November 2024.
Santana Coulibaly, a lawful permanent resident in New Jersey, is accused of registering to vote in 2016, voting in federal elections in 2018 and 2020, and submitting a provisional ballot in the 2024 presidential election. Allegations also involve statements made in her naturalization applications.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the DOJ’s Fraud Division stated that the Trump administration has now charged 50 non-citizens with illegal voting.
In a separate statement, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that a broader investigation is ongoing. Mullin reported that officials have over 1,620 open cases and have made 151 arrests. He also noted that authorities are examining more than 300,000 suspected cases, a figure he stated is continually increasing.
Mullin asserted that "every single vote that was at the hands of an illegal [immigrant], canceled out a citizen that was legally registered and able to vote."
He added, "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 emphasized that the charges announced are accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.