The Department of Justice charged 16 individuals on Friday with illegal voting, unlawful voter registration, and related offenses in a multi-state operation targeting non-citizen participation in federal elections.

The charges, announced by the DOJ's Office of Public Affairs, involve defendants primarily from Mexico, Nigeria, and other countries who allegedly voted or registered to vote despite lacking U.S. citizenship. Offenses include voting by aliens in federal elections, false claims of citizenship, wire fraud, naturalization fraud, passport fraud, and unlawful firearm purchases uncovered during investigations.

Cases span at least seven states, including Texas, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. In the Northern District of Texas, eight individuals face charges, with several Mexican nationals and Nigerian citizens accused of false citizenship statements and illegal voting in the 2024 general election. One defendant in the Western District of Texas, a Mexican national and lawful permanent resident, admitted to registering and voting in November 2024.

In Georgia, three individuals, including a suspected illegal alien from Antigua and Barbuda and a Venezuelan DACA recipient, were charged with non-citizen voting. The DACA recipient allegedly voted nine times between 2008 and 2024. Massachusetts authorities charged a Nigerian national with voting in both the 2022 and 2024 elections.

Additional cases include an Idaho defendant facing multiple counts such as wire fraud, theft of government funds, false citizenship claims, and firearm offenses. New Jersey charged a Senegalese national with illegal voting and false statements during naturalization proceedings.

The DOJ emphasized that federal elections belong to U.S. citizens and that these prosecutions aim to protect electoral integrity. Investigations involved Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Most defendants are lawful permanent residents or other non-citizens who allegedly misrepresented their status to register or vote.

This announcement follows earlier DOJ actions this month charging additional non-citizens in states like California, Kansas, and Louisiana for similar violations. The cases underscore ongoing federal efforts to enforce voter eligibility laws amid broader scrutiny of state voter rolls.