The United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, warned this Tuesday, November 3, about the criminal and immigration consequences of voting illegally, which include prison sentences, fines, and possible deportation proceedings against foreigners, even if they have legal residency in the country.
“如果你非法投票，我们会找到你，”官员在他X的官方账户上写道，这条信息在数百万美国人时发布。
Mullin warned that registering illegally as a voter or voting without meeting the legal requirements can have serious criminal consequences.
"The illegal registration of voters and illegal voting carry significant penalties of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000," he noted.
The secretary also issued a specific warning to immigrants who have documentation to legally reside in the United States but have not yet obtained citizenship.
"Even if you have legal immigration status, non-citizens who vote illegally are subject to deportation," he stated.
Her publication concluded with a statement regarding who should participate in the U.S. elections:
"Only Americans should decide American elections."
The message is part of a series of warnings from the Donald Trump administration regarding alleged electoral fraud, on a day also marked by the debate over the powers of federal agencies to investigate potential irregularities.
Can a Cuban with permanent residency be deported for voting illegally?
The warning is particularly relevant for Cuban immigrants who have legal permanent residency in the United States, known as a Green Card, but have not yet obtained citizenship.
According to the official regulations published by USAGov, permanent residents cannot vote in federal elections, even if they have lived in the United States for decades.
In the federal elections, the prohibition also applies to other foreign individuals without citizenship, regardless of whether they have permission to work or reside in the country.
The legal consequences depend on the offense committed.
Voting illegally as a foreigner in a federal election can be punished with up to one year in prison, while falsely declaring U.S. citizenship to register as a voter can result in a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
In addition, immigration authorities may initiate deportation proceedings against foreigners who have voted illegally, including permanent residents, depending on the circumstances and applicable legal provisions.
This does not mean that all violations automatically receive maximum penalties or that every case necessarily ends in expulsion from the country.
Cubans among those accused of electoral crimes in the United States
Mullin's statements come after the Department of Justice intensified legal actions against individuals accused of participating illegally in previous elections.
On October 26, four Cuban citizens were among 48 foreigners accused of alleged electoral crimes in various states across the country.
The four Cubans, aged between 60 and 73, were accused of allegedly voting in the federal elections of 2022 and 2024 without having U.S. citizenship.
Three had legal permanent residency, while the fourth was in an irregular immigration status.
Also in October, a 64-year-old Cuban was arrested in Kansas City, Missouri, accused of voting illegally in federal elections. The prosecution maintained that he had participated in at least 15 electoral processes over two decades, although the charges filed specifically concerned the elections of 2022 and 2024.
More recently, the Department of Justice announced on Monday, November 2 charges against 63 individuals for various alleged electoral crimes.
Among the accused is Juan Florencio Ramos, a Cuban citizen with legal permanent residency in North Carolina, who is alleged to have falsely declared that he possessed U.S. citizenship in order to vote.
All these procedures relate to criminal charges that must be proven in court and do not, by themselves, constitute evidence of widespread fraud.
Government warnings and judicial controversy during the election
Mullin's message aligns with that shared on Monday by U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, who also warned that those responsible for committing electoral fraud would be found and prosecuted.
Blanche requested to report to the FBI any information regarding potential irregularities, including voting by non-citizens, double voting, and the fraudulent submission of ballots into the boxes.
However, the government's offensive against illegal voting has also sparked legal controversies.
A federal appeals court upheld restrictions on certain electoral operations by the Department of Homeland Security in nine states, due to the risk that interrogations and investigations targeting American citizens could intimidate them or discourage their electoral participation.
The measure does not prohibit the investigation of electoral crimes, but it sets limits on certain actions by federal agents during the voting period.
Related videos:
Filed under: