Secretary Mullin Visits U.S. Coast Guard Facilities in North Carolina

 

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin visited the U.S. Coast Guard’s Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) and Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, witnessing demonstrations of the Coast Guard’s aviation capabilities and workforce.

Secretary Mullin was joined on his tour by Capt. Christian Polyak, commanding officer of ALC; Ed Gibbons, executive director of ALC; Capt. Mark Lay, commanding officer of ATTC; Cmdr. Walter Fredenhagen, executive officer of ATTC; and Senior Chief Lake Downham, an aviation survival technician. The tour included the ALC warehouse and the ongoing construction of the Coast Guard rescue swimmers’ training site.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the United States Coast Guard has been supercharged and is stronger than ever before,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “During my tour of the Aviation Logistics Center and Aviation Technical Training Center, I watched demonstrations of the aviation capabilities that allow the Coast Guard to be just as effective in the sky as they are on the water. The Coast Guard is critical to securing our homeland, including the great state of North Carolina, and it is my honor to serve as Secretary of the department that includes the brave men and women of the Coast Guard.”

Secretary Mullin tours the U.S. Coast Guard’s Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Secretary Mullin speaks to Coast Guard personnel, including rescue swimmers, divers, and tactical team members, at Air Station Elizabeth City

The ALC is the Coast Guard’s only aircraft depot maintenance and overhaul facility, employing nearly 2,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. As the sole industrial complex for Coast Guard aviation, ALC provides depot-level maintenance, engineering, supply, procurement, acquisition, and information services.

The ATTC shapes the future of Coast Guard fitness and readiness through the Operational Fitness Training (OFT) “C” school. Developed by ATTC’s Athletic Performance Branch, OFT is a mission-focused physical training approach designed to build operational readiness and physical resilience among Coast Guard personnel.

Three Defendants Charged with Offenses for Voting as Non-Citizens

 

Three defendants were presented in federal court in Brooklyn this week following charges of various offenses related to illegal voting in federal elections. Eoin Cranney, a citizen of Ireland and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by indictment with making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and voting by an alien in a federal election.  Ronald Sheldon Baird, a citizen of Guyana and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by misdemeanor complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election. Karlene Daniels Samuels, a citizen of Jamaica and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by misdemeanor complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election. Cranney was arraigned on October 20, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho.  Baird and Samuels were presented on October 22, 2026, before Judge Cho.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the charges.

“It is illegal for non-citizens to knowingly vote in federal elections,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office will prosecute those who illegally vote in order to preserve the integrity of our electoral process.”

As alleged in the indictment against him, Cranney, who was not a citizen of the United States, submitted a fraudulent voter registration application to the Board of Elections in the City of New York (the “NYC BOE”) in which he falsely asserted that he was a United States citizen.  Cranney then voted in the federal general election held on November 5, 2024.  In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Cranney admitted, in substance and in part, that he was not a United States citizen, that he had registered to vote in 2024, and that he had voted in the November 5, 2024 federal general election knowing that he was not a United States citizen.

As alleged in the complaint against him, Baird, who is not a citizen of the United States, submitted a fraudulent voter registration application to the NYC BOE, in which he falsely asserted that he was a United States citizen.  Baird voted in the federal general election held on November 5, 2024.  In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Baird admitted, in substance and in part, that he was not a United States citizen and that he had voted in the November 5, 2024 federal general election knowing that he was not a United States citizen.

As alleged in the complaint against her, Samuels, who is not a citizen of the United States, submitted a fraudulent voter registration application to the NYC BOE, in which she falsely asserted that she was a United States citizen.  Baird voted in the federal general election held on November 5, 2024.  In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Samuels admitted, in substance and in part, that she was not a United States citizen and that she had voted in the November 5, 2024 federal general election knowing that she was not a United States citizen.

The charges in the indictment and complaints are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Cranney faces a maximum sentence of up to six years in prison, and Baird and Samuels face a sentence of up to one year in prison.

Attorney General James Secures More Than $480,000 and Debt Relief for New York Homeowners

 

AG James Stops Companies from Collecting “Zombie” Mortgage Debt 

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured more than $480,000 and additional debt relief for New York homeowners from a group of debt buyers who attempted to collect expired mortgage payments from homeowners facing foreclosure. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that a group of companies, including BCMB1 Trust; First Age, LLC; NS194, LLC; Second Start, LLC; Southern MBA Trust, and their affiliates bought thousands of defaulted mortgage loans throughout the state, most of which originated in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Many of these loans were second mortgages that had long gone unpaid because borrowers had modified their primary mortgages during the financial crisis and lenders had stopped trying to collect payments on them. The OAG’s investigation found that the debt buyers violated New York laws by filing foreclosure lawsuits with demands to repay debt that was no longer legally collectable. As a result of OAG’s investigation, the companies will pay more than $480,000 in penalties and restitution to homeowners and must drop all demands for expired mortgage payments in any ongoing foreclosure case.

“No New Yorker should face losing their home to a predatory company demanding mortgage payments that have long since expired,” said Attorney General James. “These companies are illegally demanding money from homeowners who worked hard to keep their homes during the Great Recession. I will not tolerate illegal schemes that put New Yorkers’ homes at risk, and my office will ensure that everyone who was cheated by these companies gets their money back.”

In the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, mortgage lenders often offered potential homebuyers financing for the entire purchase of a home by creating two mortgages, a primary mortgage for 80 percent of the price of the home, and a second mortgage with a higher interest rate for the remaining 20 percent. During the Great Recession, many homeowners who struggled to make their mortgage payments were able to modify their primary mortgage. However, companies that held the second mortgages often made no attempt to collect the debt if homeowners fell behind because property values had fallen so far that the loans were essentially worthless. As a result, many second mortgages remained unpaid for years without homeowners receiving mortgage statements or other communications about their loans. These homeowners had no way to make payments or resolve their debt, even as they were making their monthly payment on their primary mortgage and rebuilding equity in their homes. 

The OAG’s investigation found that beginning in 2019, the debt buyers being investigated collectively acquired more than 3,000 of these “zombie” mortgages in New York. Most of these loans were second mortgages originated in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. The OAG found that these companies filed more than 140 foreclosure lawsuits in their attempts to collect on long-defaulted second mortgages. Many of these lawsuits sought repayment of both the full principal balance of the loans and interest going back as far as 12 years, in violation of New York’s statute of limitations that prevents lenders from collecting on past-due loan payments that are more than six years old.

As a result of OAG’s investigation, the debt buyers must pay $240,000 in penalties and provide more than $242,000 in restitution to consumers who paid or agreed to pay back debt that had expired under the statute of limitations. The companies are also barred from seeking to collect expired debt payments in the future and must amend their demands in existing foreclosure cases to exclude any expired debt.

Attorney General James asks any homeowner who believes they have been subject to an improper foreclosure to file a complaint online with the OAG’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau or call the office at 1-800-771-7755.

Telemedicine Company Owner Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for $46M Medicare Fraud Scheme

 

The owner of a telemedicine company was sentenced to 20 years in prison for organizing and leading a $46.2 million Medicare fraud conspiracy that spanned more than six years. In addition to the prison term, the defendant was ordered to pay $17,942,402 in restitution to Medicare and $10,431,463 in forfeiture.

According to court documents, Christopher Harwood, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, owned and operated a telemedicine company called TelevisitMD. Harwood and his co-conspirators targeted Medicare patients through aggressive telemarketing campaigns, inducing them to accept orthotic braces and genetic tests that they did not need.

Harwood paid doctors to approve orders for orthotic braces and genetic tests. These doctors did not follow Medicare’s rules for telemedicine visits, did not have real medical relationships with the Medicare patients, and often signed orders for orthotic braces and genetic tests without any meaningful interaction with the Medicare patients. Harwood then sold the signed doctors’ orders to durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies, laboratories, and marketers who were part of the scheme.

Harwood also owned and operated multiple DME supply companies based in Florida that he used to bill Medicare millions of dollars for orthotic braces that Medicare patients did not want or need.

In total, Harwood caused $46.2 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, and Medicare paid $17.9 million based on those claims. Harwood personally profited more than $10.4 million from the fraud scheme.

In March 2026, Harwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Major Work on the Transformative Van Wyck Expressway Project

High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes Now Open Between Kew Gardens Interchange and John F. Kennedy International Airport

$1.4 Billion Highway Modernization Project Will Ease Congestion Along this Major Queens Corridor

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the substantial completion of main line work on the transformational $1.4 billion Van Wyck Expressway Project with the opening of new managed-use lanes for taxis and high-occupancy vehicles in both directions between the Kew Gardens Interchange and Atlantic Avenue and John F. Kennedy International Airport. A centerpiece of the project, the managed-use lanes will provide speedier trips to and from the airport for taxis and other multi-person vehicles, thereby encouraging their use and reducing congestion along the main line highway. The new lanes, which opened Friday morning, are one of several new features and safety enhancements added to the Van Wyck Expressway as part of the project, which will be considered fully complete once work to rehabilitate nearby service roads is finished later this year.

“Navigating the Van Wyck Expressway to get to and from JFK has all too often been a test of endurance for motorists regardless of the time of day, but that all changes now,” Governor Hochul said. “For years, commuters have navigated seemingly endless construction and delays along this critical artery, but today, with the conclusion of major work, New York enters a new era of faster, safer travel on the Van Wyck. These new lanes for high-occupancy vehicles are among several enhancements that will remove the headaches that have long been associated with travel on this busy highway and help ensure that travelers headed to and from JFK get where they need to go hassle-free.”

The Van Wyck Expressway’s new managed-use lanes will effectively operate as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. They will be open to private vehicles, taxis and for-hire vehicles with a driver and at least one passenger. The lanes will also be open to buses.

Overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Van Wyck Expressway modernization is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken by the state and has re-worked the entire corridor between John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Kew Gardens Interchange in Queens to enhance safety, provide better vehicle flow and reduce congestion on the surrounding local street network. In addition to new managed-use lanes, the highway geometry was also reconfigured to provide longer entrance and exit ramps that prevent queueing on the highway and reduce weaving. Additionally, drainage systems were upgraded to bolster resiliency to severe weather and state-of-the art traffic management technology was installed.

Work kicked off in early 2020 with the replacement of the Long Island Rail Road Atlantic 6 bridge over the Van Wyck Expressway. Work also began that year on the multi-phase project to transform the 4.3-mile section of the Van Wyck Expressway in both directions between John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Kew Gardens Interchange in Queens, which has been undertaken in three phases.

The $342 million first phase, which was completed in 2023, rehabilitated or replaced nine overpasses that carry traffic over the expressway, extending their lifespan and creating enough space beneath the structures for the managed-use lanes. The $318 million second phase, which began in 2021, has replaced and improved four bridges carrying the Long Island Rail Road Main Line and the Atlantic and Montauk branches over the Expressway near Jamaica Station. Signal equipment, power infrastructure and drainage systems on the approaches to the new bridges were also replaced as part of this phase. The Atlantic Avenue bridge was also replaced, and the northbound and southbound Expressway service roads between Archer Avenue and Atlantic Avenue were reconstructed.

The $804 million third phase included the construction of the managed-use lanes and the replacement, rehabilitation or construction of 10 bridges that span the Van Wyck or carry the expressway over another roadway. Additionally, several exit and entrance ramps are being reconfigured to enhance safety and the area sewer system upgraded to better handle stormwater runoff and help prevent flooding in neighborhoods throughout southeast Queens. The drainage improvements included a $135 million, double-barrel sewer segment built in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, to address the chronic flooding problem experienced in southeast Queens.

Bridges rehabilitated or replaced as part of phase three include:

• The northernmost Van Wyck Expressway bridge over Federal Circle
• The northbound Van Wyck Expressway bridge over the southbound Exit 1/1E Ramp
• The Nassau Expressway bridge over the Van Wyck Expressway
• The southbound and northbound Van Wyck Expressway bridges over South Conduit Avenue, the Belt Parkway, and North Conduit Avenue
• The 86th Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
• The southbound Van Wyck Expressway bridge over southbound Main Street

In total, the project rehabilitated or replaced 23 bridges. Additionally, a new bridge has been constructed to carry the Van Wyck Expressway’s southbound Managed-Use Lane (MUL) over the Exit 1/1E ramp.

The Van Wyck Expressway Project builds on earlier work by NYSDOT to reduce congestion and improve access to John F. Kennedy Airport along the entire corridor, including the Long Island Expressway, the Grand Central Parkway, the $739 million modernization of the Kew Gardens Interchange, which was completed in December of 2022, and a $124 million project that rehabilitated a key viaduct along the Van Wyck Expressway between 57th Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road in Queens, which was completed in February of 2024. 

Leader of FARC Dissident Group Extradited to South Florida to Face Federal Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges

The leader of Frente 33, part of the FARC dissident group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was extradited from Colombia to the Southern District of Florida on Thursday to face federal charges stemming from an alleged international cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

According to court records, from September 2021 through August 2022, Willinton Henao Gutierrez, also known as “El Mocho Olmedo,” 45, and his co-conspirators participated in an international drug trafficking operation involving five kilograms or more of cocaine. The conspiracy allegedly operated in Colombia and in South Florida, including Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Henao Gutierrez and his co-conspirators allegedly agreed to transfer funds from the U.S. to and through locations outside the country to promote the manufacture, importation, sale, and distribution of controlled substances.

Henao Gutierrez is charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, conspiring to distribute cocaine known or having reasonable cause to believe it would be unlawfully imported into the United States, conspiring to commit money laundering, and attempted money laundering. He is charged alongside Jennifer Tapiero, Heyner Raul Sandoval Salazar, and Wilder Antonio Sanchez Duarte. 

If convicted, Henao Gutierrez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison on each of the two drug trafficking conspiracy charges. He also faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the money laundering charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Justice Department’s Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition of Henao Gutierrez. The Justice Department thanks the Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación of the Colombian Attorney General’s Office for its assistance and coordinated efforts.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division made the announcement. 

DEA Miami and the DEA Bogotá Country Office are investigating the case. 

HSI and FBI Arrest Ten Aliens for Voter Fraud in North Carolina

 

The right to vote on the leadership and legislation of America belongs only to American citizens

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led to the arrest of TEN non-citizens, including an illegal alien, for illegally voting in several U.S. elections in North Carolina.

On October 14 and 15, ICE, HSI, and the FBI arrested the following aliens, including nine Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) and one illegal alien, after they were charged with voting by alien in a federal election for illegally voting in several U.S. elections:

• Edduard Omar Majano-Sosa, an illegal alien from El Salvador, charged with false claim to citizenship for illegally registering to vote in 2024 and voting by an alien. He illegally voted in the 2024 general election. He illegally entered the United States in July 2022 near El Paso, Texas, and was RELEASED into the country by the Biden Administration. He was arrested by HSI on October 15, 2026. He is facing an additional charge of prohibited person with a firearm for a pistol that was found in his vehicle during the arrest. 
• Karl Paul Fout, an alien from Germany, charged with false claim to citizenship for illegally registering to vote in 2008 and voting by an alien. He illegally voted in SEVEN general elections from 2008 to 2024. Fout’s criminal history includes prior convictions for TWO counts of possession of marijuana and cocaine with intent to sell and deliver and possession of cocaine. He was arrested by HSI Cary on October 15, 2026. He was lawfully admitted to the United States in February 1960. 
• Lawton Caswell Broomfield E McKenzie, an alien from Jamaica, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering to vote in 2007 and 2012 and voting by an alien. He illegally voted in THREE general elections between 2012 and 2024. McKenzie’s criminal history also includes convictions for manufacturing, possession, or distribution of controlled substances and arrests for disorderly conduct while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, battery, disturbing the peace, trespassing, communicating threats, assault, and driving while impaired. He was arrested by ICE on October 15, 2026. He was lawfully admitted to the United States in November 1986. 
• Lionel Paul, an alien from Haiti, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering to vote in 2024 and voting by an alien. He illegally voted in the 2024 general election. He was arrested by HSI Cary on October 15, 2026. Paul’s criminal history also includes arrests for fleeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle and assault. He became an LPR in October 2018. 
• James Edward Herrmann, an alien from Germany, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering to vote in 2018 and voting by an alien. He illegally voted in TWO general elections between 2018 and 2024. Herrmann’s criminal history also includes a conviction for larceny. He was arrested by the FBI on October 14, 2026. He was lawfully admitted to the United States in December 1983. 
• Ramona Abreu-Exia, an alien from Germany, charged with false claim to citizenship for illegally registering to vote in 2004 and voting by an alien. She illegally voted in EIGHT general elections from 2004 to 2024, as well as in the 2008 primary election. She was arrested by the FBI on October 14, 2026. She was lawfully admitted to the United States in October 1977. 
• Mervin Sylvester Bogle, an alien from Jamaica, charged with falsely claiming citizenship to vote. He illegally registered to vote in 2024, and illegally voted in THREE general elections between 2008 and 2024. He was arrested by the FBI on October 15, 2026. He was lawfully admitted to the United States in February 1981. 
• Robert Harold Corbett, an alien from Canada, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering to vote in 1998 and voting by an alien. He illegally voted in SIX general elections between 1998 and 2024. He was arrested by the FBI on October 14, 2026. He was lawfully admitted to the United States in December 1963. 
• Ludgardys Olena Matthews, an alien from Panama, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering to vote in 2009 and voting by an alien. She illegally voted in THREE general elections between 2018 and 2024, as well as in the 2020 primary election. She was arrested by HSI Cary on October 15, 2026. She was lawfully admitted to the United States in October 1986 and was granted LPR status in September 2015 under the Obama Administration. 
• Gjina Gojcaj McDonald, an alien from Montenegro, charged with false claim to citizenship for illegally registering to vote in 2008 and voting by an alien. She illegally voted in SEVEN general elections from 2008 to 2024, as well as in the 2012 primary election and the 2019 special election. She was arrested by the FBI on October 14, 2026. She was lawfully admitted to the United States in February 1969. 

Edduard Omar Majano-Sosa after his arrest by HSI

Karl Paul Fout after his arrest

Lawton Caswell Broomfield E McKenzie after his arrest

Lionel Paul after his arrest

“These aliens have been arrested and charged with illegally voting in multiple elections,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “They knowingly violated our laws. Now, thanks to the devoted patriots of HSI and our partners at the Department of Justice, these aliens will have to answer for violating the sacred right of Americans to elect their own leadership. Let this be a message to any non-citizens out there who are thinking about voting in our elections: If you illegally vote, we will arrest you and you will be charged. Only American citizens should be electing American leaders.”

"The right to vote is one of American citizens' most fundamental rights, and protecting our elections' integrity is a responsibility we take seriously," said Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella. "When people illegally cast ballots, they undermine the law and the trust Americans place in our democratic process. These arrests send the message that election laws are not optional, and those who violate them will be held accountable. Working alongside our federal and state partners, we will continue to investigate election fraud and hold offenders accountable." 

“There is no more important right a citizen possesses above the right to vote. All other rights flow from this Constitutional principle when We the People select our government. Every non-citizen who chooses to illegally vote subverts our constitutional republic, actively canceling out the vote of a law-abiding citizen,” said Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “This is not a victimless crime – quite the opposite. Every voting citizen is a victim every time. These indictments should serve as a stark warning to anyone contemplating voting illegally in our 2026 election: we are watching, we will find you if you do it, and we will prosecute you.”

“The integrity of federal elections is essential to the health of our democracy,” said Reid Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. “Every FBI field office assigns dedicated election‑crimes coordinators because protecting the election process is core to our mission. When questions about voter eligibility arise, we work closely with our state and federal partners to review records, confirm the facts, and ensure election laws are honored. Any violation erodes public trust and dilutes valid votes. When any aspect of our democratic process is threatened, the FBI will act decisively to defend it.”

This is part of the Trump Administration’s broader focus on stopping non-citizens from voting in American elections. Recent examples include:

• In October, HSI arrested Lizbeth Almonte-Rosa, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Dominican Republic, for registering to vote and then illegally voting in 2022 in New Jersey prior to her naturalization. 
• In October, HSI arrested Andres Garcia, an alien from Cuba, who registered to vote and then illegally voted in 2022 and 2024 in Missouri. 
• In October, HSI arrested Paulo Jorge Silva, an alien from Portugal, who registered to vote and then illegally voted in 2024 in Pennsylvania. 
• In September, Secretary Mullin and Attorney General Todd Blanche held a press conference announcing federal indictments against ten non-citizens for illegally voting in Minnesota. 
• In September, HSI arrested Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, a non-citizen from India, for knowingly making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to vote in the 2024 election in Minnesota. 
• In September, HSI and the FBI arrested Sanata Coulibaly, an alien from Senegal, who admitted to voting in 2020 and 2024 in New Jersey. 
• In September, an HSI investigation led to the conviction of Evelyn Novelles Miller, an alien from the Philippines, who illegally voted in the 2024 election in Pennsylvania. 
• In September, HSI arrested Ludwig Uriel Espejo-Carrillo, an alien from Mexico, and charged him with unlawful voting and  false claim to U.S. citizenship after illegally voting in American elections in 2015. 
• In September, ICE arrested Anthony Tyrone Higgs, an alien from the Bahamas who had illegally voted in the 2020 election, and whose criminal history includes convictions for TWO counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, TWO counts of grand larceny, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, criminal domestic violence, assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest. 
• In September, ICE arrested Mariana Alexandra Dewey, an alien from Peru, for illegally misrepresenting herself as a U.S. citizen to vote in the 2024 election in Kansas. 
• In August, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia, was sentenced to three years in prison after an ICE investigation led to him pleading guilty to committing identity theft to illegally vote in elections for more than 20 years. 
• In July, HSI arrested Marian Charitun, an alien from Slovakia who had illegally voted in the 2022 election in New Jersey. 
• In July, an HSI investigation led to the arrest of Denise Nataly Migliore, an alien from Australia who illegally voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Louisiana. 
• In May, DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against four non-citizens in New Jersey who illegally voted in federal elections and made false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship. 
• In April, Jose Ceballos, an alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to THREE counts of disorderly election conduct after illegally voting multiple times and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen in Kansas. 
• In March, ICE arrested Mahady Sacko, a criminal illegal alien from Mauritania who had been illegally voting in the United States since 2008. 

In recent months, DHS has taken additional steps to safeguard the integrity and security of American elections. These measures include: 

• In September, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its 2026 Election Infrastructure Security Plan: Securing the Next 250. 
• In July, Secretary Mullin sent letters to secretaries of state in several states across the country warning that tens of thousands of non-citizens are registered to vote. 
• In July, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that grant recipients will be required to take several key actions on election integrity. 
• In June, DHS directed ICE to enforce stricter penalties for non-citizens who illegally vote in American elections, including deportation. 

Early Voting Hours

 

General Election - November 3, 2026

• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 6am to 9pm.
• Early Voting Period is October 24, 2026 – November 1, 2026.

Early Voting Dates	Early Voting Hours
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026	9AM to 5PM
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026	9AM to 5PM
Monday, Oct. 26, 2026	9AM to 5PM
Tuesday, October 27, 2026	10AM to 8PM
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026	10AM to 8PM
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026	8AM to 4PM
Friday, Oct. 30, 2026	9AM to 5PM
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026	9AM to 5PM
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026	9AM to 5PM