The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that 48 noncitizens have been charged in election-related criminal cases across Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York and Nevada, including allegations involving federal elections held in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

The cases involve accusations that individuals who were not U.S. citizens voted in federal elections, submitted fraudulent voter-registration applications or falsely represented themselves as American citizens. Some defendants also face charges for allegedly making false statements during the naturalization process.

The announcement highlights the Justice Department’s efforts to prosecute alleged violations of federal election laws, which generally prohibit noncitizens from voting in federal elections. The charges cover a range of cases, and the allegations against each defendant remain subject to the legal process.

In Pennsylvania, prosecutors charged several noncitizens with allegedly voting in federal elections. Among them was Alfredo Santiesteban, a 73-year-old Cuban national whom the department identified as being in the country illegally. Other defendants in the state are lawful permanent residents accused of voting in elections in 2022 or 2024.

California cases include allegations involving both election offenses and false statements on naturalization applications. Omar Alexander Munoz, a 72-year-old Belizean national, was accused of registering to vote while claiming to be a U.S. citizen, voting in multiple elections, and later making a false statement under oath on a naturalization application.

In Florida, six defendants in the Middle District of Florida face charges involving alleged illegal voting or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register or vote. The defendants include nationals of Cuba, Ecuador, Canada, and Brazil who are accused of voting in federal elections in 2022 or 2024.

The New York cases involve allegations that noncitizens submitted fraudulent voter-registration applications and voted in federal elections. In Nevada, a Filipino national was accused of voting in an election that included races for president, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

Not every defendant faces the same allegations. Some cases center on voting while allegedly ineligible, while others involve fraudulent registration, false citizenship claims or statements allegedly made during immigration and naturalization proceedings.

The Justice Department has not alleged that all 48 defendants participated in the same scheme. Rather, the cases involve separate allegations across five states and multiple election cycles. The charges underscore the legal consequences that can follow when investigators uncover evidence of alleged violations of federal election laws, while the defendants retain the right to contest the accusations in court.