A Cuban citizen with legal permanent residency in the United States is facing two federal charges for alleged electoral crimes in North Carolina, including falsely declaring that he was a U.S. citizen in order to vote.
The case is listed among the 63 files concerning alleged election-related crimes that the Department of Justice included in a national statement released on Monday, November 2, just hours before the legislative elections taking place this Tuesday.
According to federal authorities, the Cuban man identified as Juan Florencio Ramos has been formally charged with knowingly making a false declaration of U.S. citizenship for electoral purposes and voting without having the necessary citizenship to do so legally.
His case falls under the Middle District of North Carolina and is related to the 2024 elections.
The accusation had already been announced on October 29, when the Department of Justice reported on 18 individuals charged with alleged illegal voting in that state.
The authorities did not specify in the consulted statements the exact date on which the Cuban reportedly voted, nor did they provide additional details about his legal situation.
What consequences could they face?
In the United States, having a Green Card allows you to live and work legally, but it does not grant the right to vote in federal elections. To participate in those elections, one must have U.S. citizenship and meet the other electoral requirements.
According to the Department of Justice, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship to vote can be punished with up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
For its part, voting illegally as a foreigner carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.
Additionally, USAGov warns that illegal voting can affect naturalization proceedings and even lead to immigration consequences, including potential deportation, depending on the circumstances.
The formal accusation does not equate to a conviction, and the accused maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
Department of Justice announces 63 cases for alleged electoral offenses
The announcement from November 2 brings together procedures from various U.S. jurisdictions related to alleged illegal voting, false citizenship declarations, irregularities in voter registration, and other offenses.
Among the 63 individuals mentioned, four were identified by the authorities as irregular immigrants, while many of the accused, including the Cuban, hold legal permanent residency.
The Department of Justice also stated that in the previous nine weeks, it had brought charges against 195 foreign nationals in 25 states for alleged voting and election registration violations.
The revelation of these cases comes on the eve of the midterm elections on November 3, when Americans will renew all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and approximately one-third of the Senate.
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