DOJ Arrests 28 in California Voter Fraud Sweep

The United States Department of Justice launched Operation Protect the Vote on October 19, 2026, arresting 11 people and charging 28 lawful permanent residents in California with felony voter fraud. Federal prosecutors allege the defendants falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to register to vote, with 21 or 22 of them allegedly casting illegal ballots in elections since 2020. Among those detained was Omar Muñoz, a 72-year-old Belizean national accused of voting in multiple elections. Some defendants expressed shock, claiming they had no memory of ever registering.

This enforcement action is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration and California officials. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit and an emergency request to block the state from counting mail-in ballots from approximately 20,000 suspected noncitizens. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter warned that election workers who knowingly process these ballots could face prosecution for aiding and abetting a federal crime. McCotter later admitted that the federal lists are not perfect and may mistakenly include U.S. citizens.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the operation as political theater and voter suppression. Bonta described the 28 cases as a drop in the bucket compared to California's 23 million registered voters. The Justice Department has expanded its scrutiny nationwide, suing officials in 30 states, including Utah, for refusing to provide voter registration lists, and conducting an FBI raid on election records in Georgia.