Federal agents arrested 11 foreign nationals in California Monday as prosecutors announced election-related charges against 28 green card holders, most of whom allegedly cast illegal ballots, the Justice Department announced.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the arrests as Texans began early voting for the November 3 election. The California crackdown, dubbed “Operation Protect the Vote,” spans all four U.S. attorney’s offices in the state.
“We will use every legal resource to hold those who violate our election laws accountable and defend every American citizen’s constitutional right to vote,” Patel wrote on X.
All 28 defendants have legal immigration status as lawful permanent residents. Green cards do not confer U.S. citizenship or eligibility to vote in federal elections. The cases include allegations of illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and false statements in naturalization proceedings.
Alleged voting across multiple election cycles
Omar Alexander Muñoz, a 72-year-old Belizean national who lives in Commerce, allegedly claimed U.S. citizenship when he registered in September 2019, then voted in 2020, twice in 2022 and again in 2024, prosecutors said. He also allegedly denied ever claiming U.S. citizenship on his naturalization application.
Camino Giles Jiménez, 51, a Mexican national living in Kerman, allegedly voted in three U.S. elections, including the June 2026 primary. Amandeep Kaur, 30, an Indian national living in Rancho Palos Verdes, allegedly registered in December 2022 and voted in November 2024.
The charges are allegations. Prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
California voter-roll dispute
The arrests follow an October 15 federal lawsuit seeking to prevent California from counting mail ballots from more than 20,000 registrants federal investigators identified as likely foreign nationals until officials verify their citizenship.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said all 28 defendants appear on that larger list. The list does not establish 20,000 cases of illegal voting.
“California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in the DOJ’s announcement.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) has disputed the federal government’s evidence supporting the broader list, The Associated Press reported.
North Texas cases preceded California operation
The California cases follow a September 15 announcement of charges against seven people in the Northern District of Texas involving alleged illegal voting or false citizenship claims, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
Among them, Moises Anwar Arellano-Alba, 36, an illegal alien from Mexico, allegedly claimed citizenship on a 2023 Texas driver license application and voted early in Dallas County in 2024, prosecutors alleged.
Texas in-person early voting runs through October 30. Registered voters can vote at any early voting location in their county of registration.
