<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges on Friday against five individuals for illegally voting or assisting someone in illegally registering to vote in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The case involves two individuals identified as illegal immigrants, two other noncitizens, and one U.S. citizen accused of helping his wife illegally register and vote, according to the DOJ.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, "The integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American. It is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis commented that the charges highlight the necessity for election security. She stated, "Despite the media and Democrats claiming it never happens, the evidence of non-citizens registering to vote in our elections continues to pile up. Any non-citizens found registering to vote and voting in our elections will be held accountable. Only Americans should be electing American leaders."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Three of the defendants were charged in Pennsylvania: Thomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife, Marisol Guzman, 50, along with Katya Rodriguez, 30.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Holtzman and Guzman, from Carlisle, were indicted on charges related to Guzman allegedly voting as a noncitizen in the 2024 elections. Guzman is charged with voting as an illegal immigrant, while Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, is charged with making a false statement of citizenship and aiding and abetting fraudulent registration by helping Guzman vote.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rodriguez, a Mexican national residing in Harrisburg, faces separate charges of making a false statement of citizenship, fraudulent registration, and voting as an illegal immigrant in the 2024 election, according to prosecutors.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Holtzman and Rodriguez could face maximum prison sentences of 10 and 11 years, respectively, if convicted, while Guzman faces up to one year.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Prosecutors indicated that Cardoso was in the United States on a B-2 visa and cast a ballot in the state’s June 2024 primary. She could face up to one year in prison if convicted.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In Wisconsin, Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, a 25-year-old Mexican national, was charged with voting as an illegal immigrant in the November 2022 midterm election. Prosecutors allege Jurado Garcia voted despite knowing he was not a U.S. citizen and he faces up to one year in prison.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In New Jersey, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso was charged with voting as an illegal immigrant. Prosecutors allege she falsely certified her U.S. citizenship when registering through the state’s online voter registration system.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The period during which Cardoso allegedly registered to vote despite not meeting citizenship requirements coincides with a time when approximately 6,600 noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote through New Jersey’s automatic voter registration system. Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) stated that a "software error" caused thousands of noncitizens to be added to the state’s voter rolls.</p>