Federal authorities have charged a 30-year-old Mexican national with illegally voting in the 2024 election, marking the latest enforcement action under a broader crackdown on election integrity-related crimes.
On September 5, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against Katya Rodriguez of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for false statement of citizenship to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 11 years in prison, along with fines and supervised release.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation, with Fox News obtaining footage of the arrest from Rodriguez’s apartment. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a DOJ initiative described as marshaling "the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration."
Pennsylvania, a key swing state with 19 electoral votes, was a battleground in the 2024 election. President Donald Trump won the state with 50.4% of the vote, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 48.7%, according to Politico.
Separate Case: Bahamian national arrested for 2020 illegal voting
In a related enforcement action, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Anthony Tyrone Higgs, a Bahamian national admitted to the U.S. in October 1976 as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), for illegally voting in the 2020 election. Higgs was taken into custody in Decatur, Georgia, on September 3, 2024, and is currently in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
Higgs has a violent criminal record, including armed robbery, domestic violence, and assault on a police officer, according to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The Trump administration has placed him in proceedings to revoke his immigration status due to his criminal history and the illegal voting allegation.
White House condemns illegal voting by noncitizens
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that Higgs "forfeited his right to be in the U.S. when he committed these violent crimes and voted in the 2020 election."
"Any noncitizens who vote illegally in our elections will be arrested and removed. American elections are only for Americans," Bis said.
Broader context: DOJ charges five individuals across multiple states
The DOJ’s announcement included charges against five individuals across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin for illegal voting and fraudulent registration in the 2022 and 2024 elections. Of the five, two were illegal immigrants and two were noncitizens with legal status.
The cases reflect an increased federal focus on election integrity, with authorities emphasizing that only eligible U.S. citizens are permitted to vote in federal elections.
Legal and political implications
The enforcement actions follow a 2021 DOJ memo clarifying that noncitizens voting in federal elections is a crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison under 18 U.S. Code § 600. The cases also align with broader immigration enforcement policies under the current administration, which have prioritized the removal of noncitizens with criminal records or who violate election laws.
Critics argue that such enforcement disproportionately targets undocumented immigrants and may suppress voter participation in communities with high immigrant populations. Supporters counter that election integrity requires strict enforcement to prevent fraud and maintain public trust in the electoral process.
Ongoing developments
The cases remain under investigation, with additional charges possible as authorities review voter registration records and election participation data. The DOJ has not yet announced further enforcement actions, but officials have indicated that more cases may be forthcoming as part of ongoing efforts to address election-related crimes.