Feds Arrest Over Two Dozen in California Voter Fraud Sweep

Federal authorities on Monday arrested more than two dozen foreign nationals in California who prosecutors say illegally registered and voted in U.S. elections, The Associated Press reported via ABC News, as part of a Justice Department sweep called “Operation Protect the Vote.”

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that all four U.S. attorney districts in California took part and that federal officials said more than two dozen arrests were tied to allegations that noncitizens registered to vote, with some also accused of casting ballots. On X, @FBIDirectorKash wrote that more arrests Monday were tied to alleged voter fraud and that protecting American elections from criminal interference remains a top FBI priority.

More arrests this morning tied to alleged voter fraud.

Protecting American elections from criminal interference remains a top priority of this @FBI.

We will use every legal resource to hold those who violate our election laws accountable and defend every American citizen’s… pic.twitter.com/DQqYsc6WwG

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 19, 2026

Those charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Prosecutors planned a news conference later Monday for additional detail, ABC7 and the New York Post reported.

What prosecutors allege

According to ABC News, the Justice Department said all of those arrested in the sweep are lawful permanent residents, not U.S. citizens, and that they are charged with crimes including making false statements on a naturalization application and submitting fraudulent voter registrations.

In one case detailed by the New York Post, Homeland Security Investigations agents went to a Commerce, California, home around 6 a.m. and arrested Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national. Authorities allege Muñoz fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019 by claiming U.S. citizenship, then voted in 2020, twice in 2022, and in 2024, the Post reported. Investigators also allege he falsely stated under oath on a naturalization application that he had never claimed to be a citizen, according to the Post.

Central District of California U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said, according to the New York Post, “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.”

Lawsuit and warning to California

The arrests follow a Justice Department lawsuit filed last week against California over its voter rolls after the department and DHS said more than 20,000 people who are likely noncitizens appear registered to vote in the state, according to a Justice Department Office of Public Affairs release dated October 15, 2026. Under California law, every registered voter is mailed a ballot, that release noted, and it is unlawful for noncitizens to vote in federal elections.

ABC7 reported that Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter warned Los Angeles County Counsel last week, with copies to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan, that processing ballots from suspected noncitizens could expose officials to criminal investigation. “Noncitizen voting in a federal election is a federal crime — and knowingly facilitating such conduct is equally unlawful,” McCotter wrote in a letter obtained by the Associated Press, ABC7 reported. Logan responded that his office is focused on a fair and secure election and that the dispute should be handled in court, according to ABC7.

ABC News reported that before Monday the Justice Department had charged about 90 people for various election misconduct this year, including about 50 alleged to have voted as noncitizens. California officials have denied that noncitizen voting is a widespread problem. Gov. Gavin Newsom called the federal lawsuit a “sad, desperate attempt” to suppress California voters, according to the New York Post.

Sources

• @FBIDirectorKash on X: More arrests tied to alleged voter fraud
• ABC7 Los Angeles: Operation Protect the Vote in Commerce area
• ABC News / AP: Justice Department charges more than 2 dozen in California sweep
• New York Post: Federal agents arrest suspects in California voter fraud cases
• Justice Department: Lawsuit against California over voter list

Reporting by Daily Beltway.