Ten Non-Citizens Indicted in Minnesota for Voting in U.S. Elections
A federal grand jury indicted ten foreign nationals from eight countries for allegedly voting or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote in recent Minnesota elections, a reminder that voting as a non-citizen carries serious immigration consequences.
What Happened
On September 24, 2026, a federal grand jury in Minnesota indicted ten foreign nationals — citizens of Liberia, Lithuania, Ghana, Germany, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa — on charges connected to voting in U.S. elections between 2022 and 2026. Most face a count of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register or vote, a count of voting as a non-citizen, or both; one defendant faces multiple counts spanning two election cycles.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services assisted Homeland Security Investigations in building the cases, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota announced the indictments. A false citizenship claim to vote carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; voting by a non-citizen, charged as a misdemeanor, carries up to one year. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the department's message to non-citizens who vote is that "we will find you, arrest you, and you will face consequences, including criminal charges and deportation."
Why It Matters for Applicants
Only U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections, and most states also bar non-citizens from state and local elections. Green card holders, visa holders, and other non-citizens — even long-term permanent residents — are not eligible, and voting or registering to vote, even by mistake, such as through automatic voter registration at a DMV, can itself be treated as a false claim to citizenship. That can trigger both criminal charges and separate immigration consequences, including inadmissibility or removal, regardless of how the criminal case is resolved.
This indictment signals continued federal interest in prosecuting non-citizen voting cases. Applicants who are unsure whether they were automatically registered to vote when obtaining a driver's license or state ID should check their registration status and correct it if needed. This article is not legal advice; anyone concerned about a past registration or vote should consult an immigration attorney before taking action.
Source
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