Illegal Immigrants Accused of Voting in US Elections

Authorities claim non-citizens from Africa, India, and China have illegally cast ballots for years

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:33pm

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Authorities have arrested several illegal immigrants from countries like Mauritania, China, and Cuba who allegedly falsely claimed citizenship and voted in US elections, sometimes for decades. The issue of non-citizen voting has become a flashpoint, with Republicans pushing for new voter ID laws while Democrats dismiss it as a 'myth'. The cases highlight concerns about election integrity, with experts saying the problem is more widespread than many realize.

Why it matters

The issue of non-citizen voting has become a major political controversy, with Republicans arguing it undermines the integrity of US elections and Democrats dismissing it as exaggerated. These arrests illustrate the real-world implications and raise questions about the scale of the problem and the policy responses needed.

The details

Authorities have uncovered nearly a dozen cases of illegal immigrants from countries like Mauritania, China, and Cuba who allegedly falsely claimed citizenship and voted in US elections, sometimes for years. For example, a 50-year-old Mauritanian man named Mahady Sacko was arrested for allegedly voting as a registered Democrat in every election since 2008 despite not being a citizen. Other cases include a 19-year-old Chinese student who fled to China after being charged, and a Cuban woman with a prior deportation order who pleaded guilty to voter fraud.

  • Mahady Sacko was arrested last week in Philadelphia.
  • On March 6, Canadian Denis Bouchard pleaded guilty to voting illegally in 2022 and 2024.
  • Kaushalkumar Patel of Pennsylvania will stand trial this month for allegedly voting illegally in 2020.
  • Haoxiang Gao, a Chinese student, was charged in June 2025 but fled to China.
  • Cecilia Casellanos of Arkansas pleaded guilty to perjury and voter fraud on January 13, 2026.

The players

Mahady Sacko

A 50-year-old illegal immigrant from Mauritania who was allegedly a registered Democrat and voted in every election since 2008 despite not being a US citizen.

Denis Bouchard

A 70-year-old Canadian citizen who pleaded guilty to falsely claiming US citizenship to vote in the 2022 and 2024 elections in North Carolina.

Kaushalkumar Patel

A 47-year-old Indian citizen who will stand trial this month in Pennsylvania for allegedly voting illegally in the 2020 election.

Haoxiang Gao

A 19-year-old Chinese national and University of Michigan student who was charged with illegally voting in the 2024 election but fled to China before facing justice.

Cecilia Casellanos

A 59-year-old Cuban national and registered Democrat in Arkansas who pleaded guilty to perjury and voter fraud on January 13, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“The reality is aliens are voting in American elections.”

— J. Christian Adams, President of Public Interest Legal Foundation (The Post)

“Every few weeks, we learn that, 'the thing that never happens,' has happened again.”

— Mike Lee, U.S. Senator from Utah (The Post)

“In tight down-ballot races, even hundreds of illegal votes can swing an election, and every illegal vote cast is an attack on a legitimate vote cast by a real citizen.”

— Mike Lee, U.S. Senator from Utah (The Post)

What’s next

The Senate is set to debate the SAVE Act next week, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated they lack the votes to pass the bill currently.

The takeaway

These cases of alleged illegal voting by non-citizens highlight the ongoing debate over election integrity and the need for stronger voter ID laws, according to proponents. However, critics dismiss the issue as exaggerated, setting up a partisan clash over the scale of the problem and the appropriate policy responses.