Justice Department Files Charges Against 16 Individuals over Election Crimes
Illegal and legal aliens caught up in prosecutions designed to ensure ballot integrity
President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed charges against 16 individuals that involve illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and other election crimes nationwide.
The cases comprise voting by aliens in federal elections, false claims of U.S. citizenship for the purpose of either registering to vote or voting on behalf of someone deceased, voting multiple times in the same election, false statements on citizenship applications, and unlawful procurement of citizenship.
Pennsylvania stands out as the state with the most charges in the current DOJ list. Hacina Saadi, 48, an illegal alien from France, has been charged with voting by an alien during the 2024 election. Pakistani national Jamil Ahmad, 50, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien during the 2024 election. Pakistani national Nighat Jamil, 47, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien during the 2024 election. Portuguese national Paulo Silva, 54, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien during the 2024 election.
A complete, detailed list of charges for the cases in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Alabama, Missouri, Idaho, New Jersey, Ohio, Hawaii, and Kentucky is available here.
Why It Matters
- States like New Jersey have documented instances of noncitizens being on the voter rolls and potentially voting. The DOJ charges brought in New Jersey against Lizabeth Almonte Rosa, 24, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Dominican Republic could serve as a deterrent to further criminal activity. She has been charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and unlawfully procuring citizenship. Rosa was not a citizen when she was registered to vote, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.
- Some of the suspects have allegedly attempted to vote multiple times. For example, Forrest Scott Woody, 68, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, has been charged with illegally voting more than once. Woody voted twice in the 2024 general election, according to the indictment. He allegedly voted in Calhoun County, Alabama, after having already voted in the same election in Henderson County, North Carolina.
- The problem extends beyond illegal immigration since legal aliens who are not citizens have also attempted to register and vote. For example, Cuban national Andre’s Garcia, 64, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with two counts of illegally voting in federal elections in November 2022 and November 2024. Garcia knew he was not a U.S. citizen but nevertheless claimed to be one when registering to vote in 2004 and again in 2013. Garcia has allegedly voted regularly for the last 20 years in at least 15 elections, including at least 13 federal elections.
Take Action
- Restoration of America’s VoterRef.com site is a tremendous resource for average Americans. The site provides public access to government data on elections that includes voter registration rolls. The site is easy to navigate and can be searched on a state-by-state basis.
- Another critical tool available to ensure greater election integrity is the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which sets minimum standards for states to follow in their administration of elections. HAVA also created the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to help states operate in compliance with HAVA.
- Between now and Election Day on November 3, DOJ civil rights division personnel will be available to receive questions or complaints about potential violations of federal voting rights laws. Concerned citizens can also request DOJ officials to send monitors to certain locations. The email address for the DOJ Voting Section where citizens can make inquiries, register complaints, or make requests is [email protected].
DOJ election monitors are expected to be on the ground at key polling sites throughout the country during the general election just as they were during the primary races.
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