Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Federal operation in California makes more than two dozen arrests over alleged voter fraud
Federal authorities arrested more than two dozen people in California on Monday in a statewide operation targeting alleged noncitizen voter registration and voting.
The Justice Department said those arrested are lawful permanent residents, not U.S. citizens, and face charges including false statements on naturalization applications and fraudulent voter registration.
Some are also accused of casting ballots, including a 72-year-old man accused of voting in four elections.
The arrests come as the Trump administration and California clash over voter records and whether ballots linked to people suspected of being noncitizens can be counted.
The administration has reportedly used a list of 20,000 suspected noncitizens, which California officials rejected; the Justice Department has sued the state over the ballots.
Noncitizen voting is described as extremely rare, and it has not been shown to change election results.
Federal officials were expected to provide more details about the operation later Monday.
Federal authorities arrested more than two dozen people in California on Monday in a statewide operation targeting alleged noncitizen voter registration.
The Justice Department said the people arrested were lawful permanent residents, not U.S. citizens, and faced charges including false statements on naturalization applications and fraudulent voter registrations.
Some of those arrested are also accused of casting ballots, according to federal law enforcement.
The operation comes amid a dispute between the Trump administration and California over voter records and how election officials should handle ballots from people suspected of being noncitizens.
Research and investigations cited by the articles have found noncitizen voting to be extremely rare.
- Who
- Federal authorities arrested more than two dozen people described by the Justice Department as lawful permanent residents.
- What
- The arrests were part of Operation Protect the Vote and involved allegations of illegal voter registration; some people are also accused of voting.
- When
- Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Where
- California, including the Commerce area in Los Angeles County.
- Why
- Authorities say the arrests concern alleged noncitizen voter registration and voting. The operation also comes amid a federal-state dispute over election administration.
Trump administration and Justice Department
California officials
Ballot handling
Trump administration and Justice Department
The Justice Department sought to prevent California from counting ballots from people it identified as likely noncitizens until their immigration status could be confirmed.
California officials
California officials rejected the federal request and said the matter should be addressed in court.
Federal list
Trump administration and Justice Department
The Justice Department sent election officials a list of 20,000 people it suspected were noncitizens registered to vote.
California officials
California officials declined to act on the list, with the state calling the request outrageous, according to Democracy Docket.
Election enforcement
Trump administration and Justice Department
Federal officials said the operation targeted alleged voter fraud and said they would use legal resources to enforce election laws.
California officials
Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan said his office was focused on conducting a fair and secure election.
The Justice Department sent California election officials a list of 20,000 people it suspected were noncitizens registered to vote.
The Justice Department sued California over ballots from people it identified as likely noncitizens and warned election officials about possible criminal prosecution.
Federal authorities conducted Operation Protect the Vote across California and reported more than two dozen arrests.
- Arrests
- More than two dozen
- Operation
- Operation Protect the Vote
- Federal list
- 20,000 people suspected by the Justice Department of being noncitizens registered to vote
- People arrested
- Lawful permanent residents, according to the Justice Department
- Prior election misconduct charges
- About 90 people charged this year, including 50 alleged noncitizen voters
4 sources
Justice Department arrests more than 2 dozen in California sweep targeting alleged noncitizen voters
Trump administration reportedly uses list of 20,000 suspected noncitizens to drive arrests in California
Federal operation targeting alleged noncitizen voter registration underway in Commerce area
Justice Department charges about 2 dozen alleged noncitizen voters in California
What people are saying
Election integrity is really important to this administration. It should be important to every American
We will use every legal resource to hold those who violate our election laws accountable and defend every American citizen’s constitutional right to vote.
The legal consequences for either facilitating or ignoring a federal crime are significant. Noncitizen voting in a federal election is a federal crime, and knowingly facilitating such conduct is equally unlawful.