Federal prosecutors said three non-U.S. citizens admitted they knowingly voted in federal elections despite being ineligible under federal law.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Three non-U.S. citizens in Florida have pleaded guilty to federal voting offenses after admitting they knowingly cast ballots in federal elections despite being ineligible, the Justice Department said Monday.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida announced the convictions as the Trump administration continues efforts to identify and prosecute ineligible voting.
Federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Some states and local governments permit noncitizens to vote in certain local elections, but federal elections are restricted to U.S. citizens.
The defendants were identified as Moises Lima Jr., a Brazilian national; Gordon Louis, a Haitian national; and Roberto Figueredo, a Cuban national.
Two of the defendants admitted they voted in federal elections in 2020, according to prosecutors. Lima, who became a lawful permanent resident, admitted he voted in a federal election in 2024.
“Voting in federal elections is one of the most important rights and responsibilities of American citizenship,” U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement. “Federal law is clear: only United States citizens may vote in federal elections. These defendants admitted that they knowingly violated that law.”
Prosecutors said Figueredo’s lawful permanent resident status had already been revoked when he submitted a Florida voter registration application in January 2020. On that application, he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen and falsely affirmed he was eligible to vote, according to the Justice Department.
All three defendants pleaded guilty to voting by an alien.
The cases come as federal officials increase scrutiny of voter eligibility and election offenses. A recent Republican probe in New Jersey found hundreds of ineligible voters.
Original article
Comments