Justice Department Charges 48 Noncitizens and Challenges Election Ballots

The United States Department of Justice has launched a broad election-integrity crackdown days before the midterm elections, charging 48 foreign nationals with crimes including illegal voter registration and casting ballots in federal elections. These charges, part of Operation Protect the Vote, target individuals across several states, with more than half of the cases located in California, followed by Pennsylvania, New York, Nevada, and Florida. Most of the accused are legal permanent residents, with some facing penalties of up to one year in prison for voting in elections spanning 2022 to 2026.

Simultaneously, the department is pursuing two high-stakes legal cases that could influence the control of Congress. In California, the department is seeking to set aside approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots due to suspected noncitizen voting, though a federal appeals court has questioned the evidence and the department's authority to do so. In Alaska, the department is attempting to block the certification of the Senate race if Republican Daniel J. Sullivan loses, arguing that a candidate with the same name could confuse voters.

These combined actions have sparked concerns regarding federal intervention in state-managed elections. U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller stated that illegal voting "harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes."