U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a Peruvian national accused of illegally voting in the 2024 general election in Kansas, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday.
Mariana Alexandra Dewey, a lawful permanent resident and citizen of Peru, was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents. Authorities determined that Dewey unlawfully voted in the Nov. 5, 2024, election in Sedgwick County after certifying under penalty of perjury that she was a U.S. citizen on her Kansas voter registration application and while casting a provisional ballot.
During an interview with investigators, Dewey acknowledged she was a lawful permanent resident, not a U.S. citizen, and admitted to voting in the 2024 general election. DHS stated that she later pleaded guilty to disorderly election conduct under Kansas law.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the incident, stating in a news release, "If even one non-citizen votes, that steals the voice of a U.S. citizen. Only American citizens have the right to participate in our political and election processes, and DHS will continue to investigate, seek criminal prosecution, and ultimately remove aliens who vote to ensure free, fair, and honest elections."
The department described the arrest as part of an ongoing effort to address noncitizens accused of illegally voting in American elections. DHS pointed to other recent enforcement actions involving noncitizens from various countries, as well as charges against individuals in New Jersey for alleged illegal voting or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
Dewey was taken into ICE custody on September 1, 2026, after HSI agents located her at a residence in Wichita, Kansas. The DHS noted similar cases involving noncitizens from Colombia, Slovakia, Australia, Mexico, and Mauritania.