The Department of Homeland Security says it has arrested more than a dozen foreign nationals, including illegal aliens, accused of voting in American elections they were not legally entitled to participate in. Several of those arrested also have prior criminal records, according to DHS.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests as part of a broader effort to identify noncitizens who cast ballots.
“The patriots of Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrested dozens of non-citizens who illegally voted in American elections,” Mullin said. “Some of them have criminal histories that include assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence, drug trafficking, burglary, and driving under the influence.”
Among those named by DHS is Juan Carlos Matute-Hernandez of Honduras, accused of voting in the 2026 election. He has previously been arrested for driving offenses.
DHS identified the other foreign nationals arrested in connection with election-related crimes as:
- Aden Hassan Aden, a criminal alien from Somalia who allegedly voted illegally in the 2020 election, with convictions for domestic violence, drug possession, and larceny.
- Arturo Salazar Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election.
- Jaimie Sosa-Sardina, a criminal alien from Cuba accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election, with convictions for selling cocaine, battery, and resisting an officer.
- Marva Marie Cook, a criminal alien from Germany accused of illegally voting in the 2022 election, with a conviction for larceny.
- Braulio Osiel Zapata Perez, a criminal illegal alien from Nicaragua accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election, with a prior DUI arrest.
- Mai Tran, a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election, with convictions for fraud, multiple drug possession charges, selling cocaine, burglary, larceny, and illegal use of credit cards.
- Jose Luis Matute Chaviel, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election, with charges for DUI and cocaine possession.
- Phath Vorn, a criminal illegal alien from Cambodia accused of illegally voting in the 1992 election, with convictions for assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a weapon.
- Axel Bemjarmin Alarcon Duarte, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election, with charges for DUI, assault and battery on a family member, and shoplifting.
- Darwin Yoel Zelaya-Orellana, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras accused of illegally voting in the 2026 election, with a conviction for a third-degree sex offense.
- Servando Alejandro-Torres, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election, with convictions for disorderly conduct and bail jumping, and a DUI charge.
- Jairo Ivan Vazquez Montano, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico accused of illegally voting in the 2022 election, with arrests for kidnapping, DUI, and a traffic offense.
DHS says the arrests are part of a nationwide push by the Trump administration to identify and prosecute foreign nationals who vote in American elections, a federal crime for noncitizens in most circumstances.
“The Trump Administration will not allow illegal aliens to steal the votes of hardworking American citizens,” Mullin said. “American elections are for Americans only.”
DHS did not provide additional details on the timing or locations of the arrests, or on what charges each individual now faces.
