Five non-U.S. citizens, including one illegal alien, from Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, and Mexico, have been charged with unlawfully voting in federal elections, lying on immigration documents, or falsely claiming American citizenship.
Ali Khan is a 33-year-old illegal alien and DACA recipient from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago residing in La Porte.
The others charged were lawful permanent residents, but not U.S. citizens and therefore not permitted to vote in American elections, the Department of Justice said Friday.
Mohammed Omar Hassan, 61, is a Nigerian citizen and resides in Houston. Diego Benavides Rodriguez, 29, Jose Vasquez-Mendoza, 51, and Karen Hinojosa-Martinez, 37, are all Mexican citizens who live in Laredo, Port Isabel, and McAllen, respectively.
Messrs Khan and Hassan are each charged in Houston with voting by an alien in a federal election. Ms Vasquez-Mendoza and Mr Rodriguez are charged out of the Brownsville and Laredo offices, respectively.
Mr Rodriguez also faces another charge of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. A McAllen grand jury also returned an indictment against Ms Hinojosa-Martinez for lying on immigration documents after allegedly voting in a federal election.
The cases alleged that Messrs Khan, Hassan, and Rodriguez all illegally voted in the 2024 election.
Mr Hassan also allegedly cast votes in 2022, while Ms Vasquez-Mendoza illegally voted in the 2022 special election for Congressional District 34, according to the allegations.
Mr Rodriguez and Ms Hinojosa-Martinez face up to five years and a $250,000 fine if convicted of their respective charges of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship or lying on immigration documents.
Mr Rodriguez also faces another year for illegal voting and a maximum $10,000 fine, as do Messrs Khan, Hassan, and Ms Vasquez-Mendoza.
“Voting in U.S. elections is a right reserved for U.S. citizens, and Homeland Security Investigations will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of unlawful voting,” said special agent in charge John Pasciucco of HSI in San Antonio. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that those who violate federal law are held accountable.”
