Full Breakdown
Australian Permanent Resident Charged with Illegal Voting in Two U.S. Federal Elections
7/10/2026, 2:14:51 PM
Core Event: Arrest and Indictment
Denise Nataly Migliore, a 51-year-old lawful permanent resident from Sydney now living in Franklinton, Louisiana, was arrested at the federal courthouse in New Orleans on July 1, 2026. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana indicted her on June 11 on four counts, including making false statements to register to vote and illegal voting in a federal election. Prosecutors allege Migliore falsely claimed U.S. citizenship when registering in October 2022 and October 2024, then cast ballots on November 8, 2022 and November 5, 2024.
Background & Context: Voter-Eligibility Verification
U.S. law permits only citizens to vote in federal elections. Louisiana election officials have recently begun cross-checking voter registrations with the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, a response to concerns about non-citizen registration. Studies cited by election-integrity researchers consistently find non-citizen voting to be exceedingly rare, a point emphasized in public debate surrounding the case.
Key Figures & Groups
- Denise Nataly Migliore – Australian LPR accused of illegal voting.
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana – Prosecutorial authority.
- Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Veters – Lead prosecutor.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) & Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Conducted the investigation and made the arrest.
- Lauren Bis, Acting Assistant Secretary of DHS (Public Affairs) – Issued official statements.
- President Donald Trump – Commented on the case via Truth Social.
- Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul – Publicly referenced the case in calls for stricter voting-law enforcement.
Data & Statistics
- Two ballots cast: Nov 8, 2022 and Nov 5, 2024.
- Four criminal counts in the indictment.
- Maximum penalty: five years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000 (? AU 360,500).
- Louisiana has roughly 2.9 million registered voters; the state has intensified citizenship verification through the SAVE program.
Official Statements & Responses
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said Migliore’s arrest “is the result of the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement and our federal partners,” emphasizing that “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.” President Trump reposted a news link, labeling Migliore an “Australian alien” and reiterating his administration’s stance that illegal voting will be met with the “full force of the law.” Senators Lee and Paul used the case to argue for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Criticism & Opposition
Election-integrity scholars and several media outlets note that comprehensive studies and state voting data show non-citizen voting incidents are “incredibly rare.” Critics argue that high-profile cases like Migliore’s are amplified for political purposes and that existing verification systems already address the issue without broader legislative changes.
On-the-Ground Report
Migliore told an Australian outlet she “thought legal permanent residents could vote,” adding, “I have been here almost three decades, I had a pending application for citizenship, and I just considered myself a citizen. I just didn’t realise that it was such a big deal.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
A separate New Jersey case involving a non-citizen voter was mentioned in a Department of Justice announcement, but details remain unrelated to Migliore’s prosecution. The public record does not yet disclose how Migliore obtained the voter registration forms she used, nor the timeline of her pending citizenship application.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Her arrest and charges are the result of the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement and our federal partners.” — Lauren Bis, Acting Assistant Secretary, DHS
- “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.” — Lauren Bis
- “Australian alien arrested after investigation finds she illegally voted in two federal elections,” — Donald Trump, Truth Social post, July 6, 2026
- “If every vote counts, then every illegal vote does too, “cancelling” the vote of a real American citizen.” — Mike Lee, U.S. Senator, July 7, 2026
What’s Next
Migliore’s case will proceed through the federal court system in Louisiana. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison, supervised release, and a substantial fine. The indictment has reignited legislative proposals such as the SAVE America Act, which seeks to tighten citizenship verification for voter registration nationwide.
