DOJ charges 16 foreign nationals with illegal voting and fraud across the United States
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Oct. 5, 2026 that sixteen foreign nationals have been charged with election‑related crimes, including illegal voting and fraudulent voter registration, across multiple states.
The indictment marks a coordinated effort by federal prosecutors to address non‑citizen participation in federal elections as the 2026 midterm cycle approaches. Charges were filed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Louisiana, and other jurisdictions, reflecting a broad geographic scope.
In Minnesota, federal law enforcement arrested ten individuals who allegedly voted illegally or falsified citizenship claims when registering. Defendants include Liberian nationals Bhator Konah Bryant and Alan Barbu Kargbo, Lithuanian Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, Ghanaian Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, German Paul Kras, Bosnian Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, Brazilian Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, Canadian Christian Liam Schenk, and South African Hester Sophia Weihmann. Each is accused of either voting as an alien, making false statements to obtain registration, or both.
Separate filings in the Eastern District of Wisconsin charged North Macedonian national Sara Luma with unlawfully voting. In Florida, Italian permanent resident Andrea Catanese and Bahamian resident Terrance Patrick Evans faced charges for voting in the 2024 presidential election; Catanese also faces counts of attempting to procure naturalization unlawfully and making false statements related to naturalization.
The Louisiana district charged three individuals—Cuban, Mexican, and Nicaraguan nationals—for illegal voting in federal elections. Earlier in September, the Justice Department had announced similar charges against sixteen non‑citizens primarily residing in Texas.
Officials emphasized that while non‑citizens may vote in certain local elections, they are barred from participating in federal contests for the House, Senate, and Presidency. The Justice Department’s actions align with a broader White House initiative to clean voter rolls and enforce citizenship requirements for federal voting.
Federal prosecutors have scheduled initial appearances for the Minnesota defendants before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard later in September. The cases remain pending, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The DOJ’s latest enforcement move arrives as lawmakers debate additional voting‑integrity legislation, including proposals to require proof of citizenship at registration. The outcome of these cases could influence future policy and the administration’s approach to election security ahead of the upcoming midterms.
