Another Filipino in US accused of voter fraud ahead of midterm elections

MANILA — Another Filipino green card holder in the United States is facing voter fraud charges ahead of the midterm elections, the US Department of Justice announced Tuesday (Manila time).

In a news release, the US DOJ said a Filipino was among the fresh batch of foreign nationals charged with federal criminal complaints for illegally registering and voting in elections.

They allegedly voted in California then lied about it on their forms to become naturalized US citizens, the agency said.

It added that the 43-year-old Filipino, who resides in Palmdale, illegally registered to vote in August 2009 by falsely claiming to be a US citizen.

He voted by mail-in ballot in May 2020, November 2024, and June 2026, the agency said.

The other five defendants charged with making false statements on their naturalization applications included a 31-year-old Mexican national living in Palmdale, a 35-year-old Israeli in West Hills, a 52-year-old Canadian in Agua Dulce, an Iranian in Canoga Park, and a Mexican who resides in Palmdale.

The criminal charges are part of the US’ “Operation Protect the Vote,” a coordinated federal effort in California to root out fraud in US elections and protect electoral integrity.

The six foreign nationals charged in Operation Protect the Vote are lawful permanent residents, or commonly known as having a “green card,” the US DOJ said.

It however stressed that lawful permanent residents are not US citizens and are not legally allowed to register to vote or to vote in US elections.

In October 26, the US DOJ said four Filipinos were among the 48 defendants charged with crimes involving illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and other election-related offenses.

First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli, in the Nov. 2 release, noted that there were thousands of suspected noncitizens on California’s voter rolls, urging the state to work with them to verify the citizenship of those casting ballots in elections.

He said that they had charged 34 defendants in the Operation Protect the Vote, “and every one of their names was on the list we provided to California officials.”

“Every illegal vote cast and counted cancels the legitimate vote of an American citizen. We will continue to arrest and prosecute those who threaten our democratic republic through unlawful vote dilution,” he said.

The defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearances Monday afternoon (US time) in US District Court in Los Angeles.

If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, the US DOJ said.