Full Breakdown
DOJ Charges 48 Foreign Nationals in Nationwide Voter-Fraud Sweep
By Drooid · · How we work
Operation Protect the Vote: California arrests
Federal agents arrested 28 individuals in California as part of “Operation Protect the Vote,” the state’s largest voter-fraud bust to date. Among those taken into custody were Belizean national Omar Alexander Muñoz (72), who allegedly registered to vote in 2019 while claiming U.S. citizenship and voted in the 2020, 2022 and 2024 elections; Salvadoran Ana Domínguez, Cambodian Butleng Taing, Honduran Carlos Antonio Galeas, Philippine-born José Probitsado Amaro, Mexican Maricela Nazarín González, and Myanmar-born Moe Thida Lwin. The defendants face felony counts that include making false statements on naturalization applications and illegally voting or registering to vote.
Scope and allegations across the country
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a total of 48 foreign-national defendants have been charged in five states—California, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York. All but one are lawful permanent residents; the lone illegal immigrant is a Cuban national. The charges allege a pattern of fraudulent voter registrations followed by voting in federal elections, often accompanied by false statements under oath during naturalization interviews.
Federal and state officials’ positions
First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District Bill Essayli said the charges reinforce the DOJ’s claim of “widespread voter fraud.” The DOJ has sent letters to every California county requesting assistance in identifying non-citizen voters and has sued Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder to block mail-in ballots from individuals whose citizenship cannot be verified.
California officials argue the federal intervention is untimely, noting that three judges in a related hearing expressed sympathy for the state’s stance before adjourning without ruling. Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the DOJ’s actions as a “desperate clown show.”
Legal and electoral implications ahead of the November 3 election
The DOJ’s lawsuit seeks to prevent California from counting mail-in ballots for the November 3 election until citizenship status is confirmed. The move comes as the 2024 midterm elections approach, prompting concerns from federal prosecutors that non-citizen voting could affect election outcomes, while state officials maintain that the federal effort infringes on state election administration.