Federal authorities have recently arrested multiple noncitizens for voting illegally in U.S. elections, contradicting Democratic assertions that such incidents are extremely rare or do not occur at all. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon and Senator Alex Padilla argue that requiring proof of citizenship to vote would disenfranchise eligible American voters, while also maintaining that noncitizen voting is uncommon. In response to the indictments, Democrats like Padilla claim these arrests are a partisan attempt to distract from other issues, such as delays in voter registration processing.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Federal authorities have arrested 12 noncitizens recently on election-related charges, contradicting Democratic claims that such incidents are rare or nonexistent. These arrests come amid debates over the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Democrats argue the bill is voter suppression, while Republicans see it as a necessary measure to protect election integrity. For example, Rep. Joe Morelle from New York called the SAVE Act "extremely dangerous" and "voter suppression," whereas Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon stated noncitizens do not vote in U.S. elections despite her district experiencing arrests of illegal voters this month. One arrest involved a Trinidadian citizen who voted illegally in the 2022 midterms, another charged Haitian immigrants with submitting fraudulent voter applications, and an individual from Mauritania is accused of voting seven times since 2008.
Written for “Election Crime Arrests Increasing” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Federal authorities made arrests in a string of election-related indictments against noncitizens in recent weeks, colliding with Democratic claims ranging from such voting being "extremely rare" to assertions that it simply "doesn’t happen."
The cases come amid a partisan fight over the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
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which → make → elections
Democrats argue the measure would make voting harder for eligible Americans.
asserted
voting → argue → Americans
"Let me be perfectly clear: This is a non-issue.
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This → let → ?
Noncitizens do not vote in U.S. elections," Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., declared in 2025 after voting 'no' on the bill at the time.
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Scanlon → vote → time
Three noncitizens were arrested this month in Philadelphia County, which Scanlon partially represents, and charged with election-related offenses.
Trinidad and Tobago national Sade Guppy allegedly voted illegally in the 2022 midterms, while Haitian illegal immigrant Cliff Sanon was charged with submitting a fraudulent voter registration application prior to the 2026 Pennsylvania primary.
DHS also pointed Fox News Digital to Mauritanian illegal immigrant Mahady Sacko, who is accused of voting in seven federal elections since 2008.
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who → arrest → 2008
Fox News Digital reached out to Scanlon for comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
On Wednesday, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced indictments of 10 foreign nationals accused of committing voter fraud in Minnesota alone, including during August's primary, saying the issue should not be a "partisan concept."
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issue → announce → primary
The alleged illegal voters captured are from Brazil, Ghana, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liberia and Canada.
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voters → allege → Brazil
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., has similarly called noncitizen voting "extremely rare" while denouncing the SAVE Act as "anti-voter" and claiming Trump is trying to "scapegoat immigrants."
When asked Wednesday by Fox News Digital about the spate of arrests, Padilla reaffirmed the crime is "already illegal and every legitimate study shows it is extremely rare, despite Donald Trump’s claim to the contrary."
"The Department of Justice’s arrest of a dozen people after investigating millions of the 174 million registered voters in America confirms that," he said, adding he wished DOJ would instead focus on reported delays in voter-registration processing in states like Texas to ensure every eligible voter can vote.
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voter → call → Texas
Padilla called the recent announcement of 12 arrests a "desperate attempt by Republicans to distract from their record of rising costs, chaos, and corruption that are hurting the American people."
Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., has called the SAVE Act "extremely dangerous" and "voter suppression."
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Morelle → call → Act
His office responded to Fox News Digital but did not offer comment before press time.
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office → respond → time
Last month, Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw of Fairfax County, Virginia, spoke out similarly on MSNOW.
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Walkinshaw → speak → MSNOW
"It is so rare that is almost impossible to measure.
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that → measure → ?
It just doesn’t happen," Walkinshaw said, surmising that Trump is trying to resurrect the "Big Lie" and "whining about the fact that he lost the 2020 election" by posturing to make similar claims after Republicans lose the midterms.
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Republicans → happen → midterms
Fox News Digital also sought comment from Walkinshaw and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who said in March that "noncitizens do not vote in American elections."
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noncitizens → seek → elections
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also disclosed over the summer that roughly 400 noncitizens had voted in the state while resisting calls for additional federal scrutiny.
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noncitizens → disclose → scrutiny
Three New Jersey residents were also charged this month with illegally voting and making false statements on citizenship applications.
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residents → charge → applications
They hailed from Jamaica, Venezuela and Senegal.
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They → hail → Jamaica
Asked about the dynamic, a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital the agency could not comment on active investigations but remains committed to "rooting out and investigating election fraud wherever it can be found," demonstrating proof.
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it → ask → proof
"Despite the media and Democrats denying it for decades, noncitizens continue to register and vote in federal elections," White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital.
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Bis → deny → Digital
"Only Americans should be electing America’s leaders," she said, as clamoring from both sides of the issue grows louder ahead of key midterm elections.
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clamoring → elect → elections
Fox News' William Mears Jr. contributed to this report.
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Jr. → contribute → report
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