Federal agents arrested more than two dozen noncitizens accused of fraudulently registering to vote in California elections, as part of a massive operation dubbed "Operation Protect the Vote." The takedown, which targeted a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens in the state, is being called the largest of its kind in California history by Department of Justice officials.
According to the New York Post, law enforcement authorities sought more than two-dozen foreign nationals charged with fraudulently registering to vote, with most of them allegedly casting illegal ballots in US elections. Homeland Security Investigations agents conducted early morning arrests, including one at the Commerce home of Alexander Muñoz around 6 a.m. Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national, allegedly registered to vote in September 2019 by falsely claiming US citizenship and went on to vote in 2020, twice in 2022, and in 2024. He also allegedly lied on his naturalization application about never having claimed citizenship. Muñoz faces felony charges including making false statements in a naturalization application.
"Today's arrests confirm what we suspected"
The operation follows an ultimatum issued to California by federal authorities, who had warned the state about noncitizen voting. "Today's arrests confirm what we suspected and what we put California on notice for: Noncitizens are voting in California elections which is unconstitutional and illegal," a law enforcement official stated. The article notes that state election officials' claims of checking citizenship are false, as California only requires an attestation of citizenship without documentation, leaving voter rolls vulnerable to fraud.
In total, 28 alleged noncitizens were arrested and face a variety of criminal and misdemeanor charges. The White House shared the news on social media without additional commentary, simply posting a graphic highlighting the operation.
