California Officials Caught Lying As 28 Noncitizens Arrested
Federal agents arrested 11 foreign nationals and charged 28 others in California on Monday as part of the largest voter fraud takedown in the state's history. The operation targeted a network of noncitizens who allegedly registered to vote and cast ballots illegally, according to the New York Post. This massive sweep began early Monday morning when Homeland Security Investigations moved in on suspects across the state.
Alexander Muñoz, a 72-year-old Belizean national, was among those taken into custody at his home in the City of Commerce. Authorities say he lied on his naturalization application to claim he was a US citizen. He then voted in the 2020 election, twice in 2022, and again in 2024. Prosecutors note he also falsely swore under oath that he had never claimed to be a citizen.
THIS MORNING IN CA: Acting Deputy Attorney General @PADAGMcCotter announces charges against 28 Foreign Nationals in California for election crimes.
"Today's charges demonstrate why that lawsuit [against CA over its voter rolls] is so important. The lawsuit is about preventing voter fraud that cancels out the votes of U.S. citizens. Enforcing federal law increases the integrity of elections — it increases confidence in elections."
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) October 19, 2026
This crackdown stems from a specific list of over 20,000 suspected noncitizen registrants that federal officials shared with California election leaders. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter confirmed that every single defendant charged appears on that list. "Each of the 28 defendants charged today appears on the list of more than 20,000 likely noncitizen registrants we provided to California election officials last week," McCotter said, per the Daily Signal.
McCotter highlighted a disturbing pattern where some of these individuals voted multiple times. Illegal multiple voting is alleged for no fewer than eight defendants. Including some in the 2026 primary, he stated. The charges arrive just days after the Department of Justice sued California for refusing to review these suspected voters or set aside their ballots.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli argued that state leaders are actively misleading the public about their own laws. He claimed that California continues to mail ballots to people who are not citizens despite federal rules. "California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law, which makes it a crime," Essayli said, according to the Washington Times.
Essayli went further by accusing top state officials of dishonesty regarding election integrity. The Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the governor. They're lying, he said. He noted that the state's claims of checking for citizenship are false and filled with disinformation spread by "deceivers up there in Sacramento."
"Elections belong to American citizens, even if one non-citizen votes in an election, that is a violation of the constitutional rights of every voter in California who has a legal right to have their vote be counted equally and not diluted by non-citizens" @USAttyEssayli on Operation Protect the Vote.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 19, 2026
The reaction from the accused varied, with one family member of Muñoz mocking the federal agents. As they led him away, a relative shouted, "You all need to get a job," the New York Post reported. This incident underscores the tension between local resistance and federal enforcement.
The core issue here is the constitutional right of legal citizens to have their votes counted equally. McCotter emphasized that even one illegal vote dilutes the power of every lawful voter. "Elections belong to American citizens, even if one non-citizen votes in an election, that is a violation of the constitutional rights of every voter in California who has a legal right to have their vote be counted equally and not diluted by non-citizens," he said.
These 28 defendants face felony charges for making false statements and illegal voting. The government's stance is clear: noncitizens voting in California elections is both unconstitutional and illegal. This bust proves that federal authorities are finally moving to stop a system that has allowed thousands of potential fraud cases to go unchecked.