Ten Alaska residents who were born in American Samoa were arraigned Thursday on charges including voter misconduct, a case that has renewed attention on the complex citizenship status of people born in the Pacific territory.
The indictments, returned by a grand jury Tuesday, include both felony and misdemeanor counts. Alaska prosecutors allege the defendants — most of whom are related and live in the isolated community of Whittier, about 60 miles south of Anchorage — falsely claimed U.S. citizenship when registering or attempting to vote.
State Troopers descended on Whittier almost a year ago to deliver court summonses in connection with the investigation. Some of the defendants were expected in court Thursday afternoon; others were scheduled to appear at later proceedings, according to court filings and law enforcement statements.
The cases underscore the unusual legal status of people born in American Samoa. Unlike persons born in the 50 states and most U.S. territories, American Samoa–born individuals are classified as U.S. nationals rather than U.S. citizens at birth. As nationals, they can obtain U.S. passports and serve in the U.S. military and may vote in elections in American Samoa, but they do not automatically acquire full U.S. citizenship and cannot hold public office in the United States or participate in most U.S. elections.
Alaska authorities say the charged residents declared themselves to be U.S. citizens on voter registration forms or in attempts to vote in Alaska elections. The state does not provide further public details about the specific allegations or the number of individual counts in each indictment beyond noting that they encompass both misdemeanors and felonies.
Legal scholars and advocates have long debated the citizenship status of American Samoa–born people, and the recent indictments are likely to draw renewed scrutiny of how states verify voter eligibility for individuals from the territory. U.S. courts have considered the issue in prior litigation, with rulings differing on whether American Samoans may be recognized as citizens without congressional action. Those legal disputes, however, were not directly addressed in the Alaska indictments.
Whittier is a small, remote community accessible primarily by a single tunnel and ferry routes, and many residents maintain close family ties. Prosecutors have said several of the individuals charged are related, but court documents do not indicate whether the alleged conduct was coordinated or the result of misunderstandings about citizenship status.
The arraignments mark the latest development in an investigation that began with law enforcement outreach to the Whittier community nearly a year ago. The state will proceed with its case through the criminal justice system, where defendants will have the opportunity to respond to the charges. Further hearings and motions are expected as the matter moves through the court process.