FBI Arrests 11 in California Voter Fraud Probe as 28 Face Federal Charges

Federal authorities have charged 28 foreign nationals in California with alleged election-related crimes, including illegally registering to vote and casting ballots in U.S. elections. The arrests, announced on October 19, 2026, came amid an escalating dispute between the federal government and California officials over election security ahead of the November midterm elections.

The operation, known as “Operation Protect the Vote,” involved federal law enforcement agencies and all four U.S. attorneys’ offices in California. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 11 of the 28 people charged were arrested, while the remaining defendants were expected to be taken into custody.

Federal prosecutors said all 28 individuals are lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders. Although they are legally permitted to live and work in the United States, they are not U.S. citizens and are generally prohibited from voting in federal elections.

The charges include allegedly submitting fraudulent voter registrations and making false statements on naturalization applications. Authorities said most of the defendants were accused of casting ballots illegally, with some allegedly voting in multiple elections.

The announcement followed a dispute over a list of more than 20,000 people whom federal officials identified as potential noncitizen registrants. The Justice Department said it had asked California to review the individuals’ citizenship status and set aside their mail-in ballots until eligibility could be verified. After California declined to comply with the request, the federal government filed a lawsuit seeking court intervention.

Federal officials argued that the cases demonstrated the need for stronger safeguards against unlawful voting. California officials, however, disputed the administration’s broader claims and warned against treating the arrests as proof of widespread election fraud.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the cases represented a tiny fraction of the state’s approximately 23 million registered voters. State and local officials also raised concerns about the reliability of the federal government’s allegations and the potential risk of eligible voters being wrongly flagged.

The cases have intensified a broader legal and political confrontation over voter registration records, citizenship verification and the handling of mail-in ballots just weeks before Election Day on November 3.

While federal prosecutors have brought charges against the 28 individuals, the allegations must still be tested in court. The cases do not, by themselves, establish that widespread voter fraud has occurred in California.

Source:  NYPOST