Federal prosecutors have brought election and naturalisation-related charges against 28 lawful permanent residents in California, accusing them of falsely claiming US citizenship to register or vote.
Eleven were arrested on October 19 in an operation involving all four federal prosecution districts in the state. The Justice Department said those arrested were expected to appear in court that afternoon without entering pleas.
The allegations differ between defendants. They include unlawful voting, fraudulent registration and false statements in applications for citizenship. The announcement does not allege that every defendant cast a ballot.
All 28 have legal permanent-resident status, the department said. That status permits residence in the United States but does not confer citizenship or a right to vote in federal elections.
Prosecutors allege that some defendants denied previous citizenship claims or voting when seeking naturalisation. The charges remain accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent.
The operation is separate from the federal government’s wider litigation over California’s voter rolls. It does not establish wrongdoing across those rolls.
