By Recent cases involving non-citizens accused of voting in U.S. elections have drawn renewed scrutiny as Congress debates requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Federal prosecutors in March charged Mahady Sacko, a 50-year-old Mauritanian national in Philadelphia, with fraudulent voting in the 2024 election. Authorities allege Sacko, who was ordered deported in 2000, falsely claimed U.S. citizenship and may have voted in federal elections since 2008. Arrested in a joint ICE-FBI operation, he denied the allegations, stating, “Everything is a lie! They are lying about me!” He has not entered a plea and faces up to five years in prison.
Other cases have emerged nationwide, according to The New York Post.
In North Carolina, Canadian national Denis Bouchard, 70, pleaded guilty on March 6 to voting in the 2022 and 2024 elections; records indicate voting activity dating back to 2004. He faces up to ten years in prison.
In Michigan, Haoxiang Gao, a 19-year-old Chinese national and University of Michigan student, was charged in 2025 with illegally voting in 2024 but fled to China and remains wanted.
In Arkansas, Cuban national Cecilia Casellanos pleaded guilty in January to perjury and voter fraud. Separate cases involve Zlata Risley, a lawful resident from Kazakhstan who pleaded guilty and received probation, and Nigerian citizen Chi Baum, who faces charges for alleged illegal voting in 2024.
In Florida, Ukrainian nationals Svitlana Demydenko, 53, and Yelyzaveta Demydenko, 22, were arrested in 2025 for allegedly voting in 2024. Both have pleaded not guilty; trial is pending.
Additional cases include an Indian national in Pennsylvania awaiting trial over alleged illegal voting in 2020, along with others in Florida and New York.
Federal law bars non-citizens from voting in federal elections. Pew Research estimated about 14 million non-citizens lived legally in the U.S. in 2023.
“The reality is aliens are voting in American elections,” said J. Christian Adams of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, adding the scale is “way worse than the left says, but it’s way better than some others say.” He cited registration system weaknesses as a “systemic failure.”
Public opinion polling shows broad concern about election integrity alongside confidence in the system. Fifty-eight percent of voters say there is at least some voter fraud in U.S. elections, including 77% of Republicans and 58% of Independents, while 60% say elections are generally secure. Eighty-five percent say only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote.
Seventy-one percent of voters support the SAVE Act, including 91% of Republicans, 69% of Independents, and 50% of Democrats. Majorities also back specific provisions such as proof of citizenship (75%), voter ID requirements (81%), removing non-citizens from voter rolls (80%), and data sharing with the Department of Homeland Security (61%). Fifty-four percent say preventing fraud should take priority over access concerns for eligible voters.
The cases come as lawmakers consider the SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. The bill has passed the House but faces a 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
Supporters, including Rep. Chip Roy and Sen. Mike Lee, say it would strengthen election integrity. Democrats argue such voting is rare and warn the measure could burden eligible voters.
Time to end the DEMOCRAT zombie filibuster.
Sen. Mike Lee: “Make them stand on the floor and explain why they’re blocking what 85% of Americans want.” pic.twitter.com/XEiSQ7BV6G
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 16, 2026
Lee recently went on Fox News to explain advocate for ending what he calls the “zombie filibuster.” He has demanded that Senate Majority Leader John Thune bring the bill to a vote, forcing filibustering Democrats to debate publicly. He argued that such a move would highlight their radical opposition to a broadly popular reform to secure American elections.
Moderate Republican Lisa Murkowski, however, recently claimed that the SAVE ACT was “dead,” ignoring the Utah senator’s point about the filibuster and saying that Lee knows he doesn’t have the “60 votes” to get it passed.
She continued: “Not only does the U.S. Constitution clearly provide states the authority to regulate the “times, places, and manner” of holding federal elections, but one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington, D.C., seldom work in places like Alaska.
Election Day is fast approaching. Imposing new federal requirements now, when states are deep into their preparations, would negatively impact election integrity by forcing election officials to scramble to adhere to new policies likely without the necessary resources. Ensuring public trust in our elections is at the core of our democracy, but federal overreach is not how we achieve this.”
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