- DOJ arrested Darwin Jonathan Rivera Flores on August 28, 2026, in Winnetka, California, alleging false citizenship claims and voter registration fraud.
- Federal cases in Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts target green card holders accused of illegal voting or registration.
- Officials say these allegations can lead to criminal charges and removal proceedings, but each case remains separate.
The Department of Justice said Darwin Jonathan Rivera Flores was arrested on August 28, 2026, in Winnetka, California, on a federal complaint alleging a false claim to U.S. citizenship and fraudulent voter registration. The Honduran lawful permanent resident was born in Honduras, entered the United States in 2002 and held a green card, prosecutors said.
The complaint makes two allegations against Rivera Flores. It concerns both his stated citizenship and his voter registration.
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The cases involve lawful permanent residents and other noncitizens. The Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department have described voting by lawful permanent residents in federal elections as prohibited, while prosecutors have brought charges under several election-related theories.
Those theories include voting by an alien, fraudulent voting, fraudulent voter registration and statements about citizenship. The immigration consequences described in the cases include removal proceedings.
The charges include voting, registration and citizenship allegations
The 2026 cases identified by prosecutors and DHS include the following:
| Person | Location and status | Allegation or action | Date or case timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Sayen Adams | Northern District of Texas; 67-year-old Nigerian lawful permanent resident | Charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and making a false statement of citizenship to register to vote | The office announced its operation on September 15, 2026; six indictments came on September 10 and a complaint followed on September 11 |
| Anthony Tyrone Higgs | Decatur, Georgia; Bahamian lawful permanent resident | Arrested and placed in removal proceedings after investigators alleged he voted illegally in the 2020 election | September 3, 2026 |
| Marisol Guzman | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Indicted in a case involving alleged voting as an alien in the 2024 election | September 4, 2026 |
| Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso | Union County, New Jersey | Charged with voting by an alien in a federal election | 2026 case |
| Yupeng Sun | Massachusetts; Chinese national | Arrested after allegedly voting in the name of another Chinese lawful permanent resident; charged with fraudulent voter registration and fraudulent voting | August 19, 2026 |
The Texas case involved a 67-year-old lawful permanent resident, according to prosecutors. The announcement covered six indictments dated September 10 and a complaint dated September 11.
Guzman’s indictment was part of a set of filings involving Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Cardoso was charged in Union County, New Jersey.
Higgs’ case includes the clearest immigration action in the material. DHS said investigators alleged that he voted in the 2020 election, then placed him in removal proceedings after his September 3 arrest in Decatur.
The allegations can affect both criminal and immigration proceedings
A lawful permanent resident can face arrest or prosecution when authorities allege illegal voting or a citizenship misstatement. The government may also pursue removal proceedings in some cases.
The legal theories are not identical. A voting allegation differs from a registration allegation, while a claim about citizenship can add a separate issue to the criminal case.
The Rivera Flores complaint alleges a false claim of citizenship alongside registration conduct. Sun’s case instead involves an allegation that he used another Chinese lawful permanent resident’s identity when voting.
The research identifies possible immigration consequences, rather than an automatic result in every case. DHS and DOJ have linked the reported arrests to election-integrity enforcement, but each defendant’s criminal and immigration matters must be assessed separately.
The charges remain allegations. An indictment or criminal complaint does not itself establish guilt, and removal proceedings are separate from the criminal process.
The Texas office announced its operation on September 15, 2026, after filing six indictments on September 10 and a complaint on September 11. Those dates place the announcement alongside the California, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Massachusetts cases described in the filings.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
