DOJ charges 48 noncitizens with voting crimes in five states, 28 in California
The Justice Department announced federal charges against 48 non-citizens in California, Florida, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania over illegal voting and false registration. Twenty-eight of the defendants are in California, where the DOJ is also in a court fight with the state over about 20,000 voters it says are noncitizens.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1The Justice Department announced on Monday 26 October that it had arrested and charged 48 non-U.S. citizens in California, Florida, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania with federal election-related crimes. Washington ExaminerR “The DOJ announced Monday morning that it arrested and charged four dozen people across California, Florida, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The alleged offences include voting in federal elections, making false claims of U.S. citizenship to vote and to register to vote, and fraudulent voter registration. Washington ExaminerR “including voting in federal elections, making false claims of U.S. citizenship to vote and to register to vote” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 2Twenty-eight of the defendants are in California. Washington ExaminerR “DOJ charges 48 noncitizens with federal voting crimes, including 28 in California” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ New York PostR “Nationwide, 48 alleged noncitizens were charged.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1According to the Washington Examiner, 47 of the 48 were lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and only one was illegally in the country; noncitizens may not vote in state or federal elections. Washington ExaminerR “Forty-seven of the 48 people arrested were lawful permanent residents, meaning they were green card recipients and not illegal immigrants. Only one was illegally present in the United States.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The New York Post reported that the California defendants were arrested in raids last Monday under a statewide takedown called "Operation Protect the Vote", and were identified from a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens in the state who allegedly registered to vote in the coming midterm election. New York PostR “Federal agents arrested the defendants in a series of raids across California raids last Monday under a statewide takedown dubbed “Operation Protect the Vote.””“They were identified from a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens in the state who allegedly registered to vote in next month’s midterm election.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Prosecutors allege that Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national arrested in the City of Commerce, registered to vote in September 2019 by claiming to be a citizen, voted in 2020, twice in 2022 and in 2024, and lied under oath on his naturalization application; he faces felony charges. New York PostR “Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national, fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019, claiming he was a US citizen, according to prosecutors.”“He faces felony charges including making false statements in a naturalization application.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Other California defendants named include José Probitsado Amaro, 51, of the Philippines, accused of registering falsely and voting in the November 2024 general election, and Moe Thida Lwin, 57, of Myanmar, accused of registering fraudulently in 2024 and voting illegally. New York PostR “Amaro then cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election and made false statements during his naturalization interview”“Authorities say Lwin fraudulently registered to vote in 2024 and then proceeded to illegally vote in a US election.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The charges come amid a wider dispute: the DOJ has demanded that California set aside about 20,000 voters it says are noncitizens, and California officials say the federal government has no right to intervene while the election is under way. New York PostR “The DOJ has demanded the state set these votes aside, but California officials have claimed the federal government had no right to make such an intervention when the election is already underway.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1A panel of three judges appeared sympathetic to the state's argument at a hearing on Sunday but adjourned without ruling, and the parties are due back in court Tuesday. New York PostR “The three judges in the case appeared sympathetic toward the state’s argument in a hearing Sunday but they adjourned without making a ruling.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1The DOJ has also written to every California county asking election officials to help identify noncitizen voters, and has sued Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder over noncitizens on the rolls. New York PostR “It has also sued California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder for having noncitizens on voter rolls.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Gov. Gavin Newsom called the DOJ's efforts a "clown show", and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California replied that the state is not allowed to have any noncitizens on its voter rolls and said the charges support federal claims of widespread voter fraud. New York PostR “Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the DOJ’s attempts as a desperate “clown show” on Saturday”“buttress the federal government’s claims of widespread voter fraud, First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District Bill Essayli said.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Supporters of the crackdown argue every illegal vote cancels out a citizen's vote, while opponents say noncitizen voting is rare and has not been shown to change the outcome of any election. Washington ExaminerR “Opponents say noncitizen voting is rare and has not been proven to sway the outcome of any election.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the charges as a federal crackdown on illegal voting ahead of the midterms. The Examiner gives a short national overview; the Post focuses on the California arrests, with raid detail, defendant profiles and the DOJ's fight with state officials.
- Emphasis
- The Examiner stresses that 47 of 48 were green card holders and notes opponents' view that noncitizen voting is rare. The Post stresses the scale of California's alleged fraud, defendants' criminal histories and the clash between Essayli and Newsom.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes a response from the defendants or their lawyers. The Post gives no evidence for the claim of widespread fraud beyond the DOJ's list of 20,000 suspected noncitizens, and the Examiner does not mention the California court fight.
- Charged language
- “massive California ballot fraud bust”“Fraud King”“clown show”“pre-election blitz”
- For example
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“DOJ files charges against 28 alleged noncitizen voters snared in massive California ballot fraud bust” — New York Post
“The effort is part of the White House’s pre-election blitz to purge illegal immigrants and noncitizens from state voter rolls.” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- 48 noncitizens were charged in California, Florida, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania.
- 28 of the defendants are in California.
- The charges concern illegal voting and fraudulent voter registration ahead of the midterm elections.
Where accounts differ
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Scale and meaning of noncitizen voting
- Right
- Coverage relays the DOJ's and Essayli's view that the charges support claims of widespread voter fraud; the Post calls the California arrests a "massive" bust.
Department of Justice organisation
Announced the arrests and charges of 48 noncitizens in five states and, in California, is pressing the state to set aside about 20,000 voters it says are noncitizens and has sued state and county officials.
“The DOJ announced Monday morning that it arrested and charged four dozen people” — Washington Examiner
“The prosecutions come as the Department of Justice faces off with California over 20,000 voters who the federal government claims are noncitizens.” — New York Post
California place
State officials argue the federal government has no right to intervene while the election is already under way; Gov. Newsom called the DOJ's moves a "clown show".
“California officials have claimed the federal government had no right to make such an intervention when the election is already underway.” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
Right2 articles
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DOJ charges 48 noncitizens with federal voting crimes, including 28 in California
Neutral Brief national overview of the charges that notes most defendants were lawful permanent residents and includes both supporters' and opponents' views on noncitizen voting.
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Mixed Dramatic California-focused account of the arrests, with defendant details and the political clash with Newsom, framed as a 'massive' fraud bust but noting the state's legal objections.
- 26 Oct 15:16 First Washington ExaminerR DOJ charges 48 noncitizens with federal voting crimes, including 28 in California
- 26 Oct 18:27 +3h 11m New York PostR DOJ files charges against 28 alleged noncitizen voters snared in massive California ballot fraud bust
- 26 Oct 20:31 +5h 15m NewsweekN 47 Green Card Holders Charged by Trump DOJ With Illegal Voting: Full List
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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