The United States Department of Justice has formally charged two Nigerians and dozens of other foreign nationals with alleged illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and making false claims of US citizenship in connection with federal elections.
The charges involve 63 individuals across the country and include allegations of non-US citizens voting in federal elections, falsely claiming American citizenship to register or vote, and submitting fraudulent voter registration applications.
The department announced the charges on Monday as part of an ongoing crackdown on alleged election-related offences.
The Nigerians were identified as 61-year-old Mohammed Omar Hassan and 74-year-old Michael Agah, both lawful permanent residents of the United States.
According to a statement published on the department’s website, Hassan was charged in the Southern District of Texas with voting in an election as a non-US citizen.
Agah, meanwhile, was charged in the Western District of North Carolina with voting as a non-US citizen and falsely claiming US citizenship to vote.
Agah was charged in the Western District of North Carolina with voting as a non-US citizen and falsely claiming American citizenship to cast a ballot.
“Nigerian national Mohammed Omar Hassan, 61, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Hassan allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
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“Nigerian national Michael Agah, 74, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship to vote. Agah allegedly falsely stated and claimed that he was a U.S. citizen on an Authorization to Vote Form. Then on Nov. 5, 2024, Agah voted in a federal election,” the statement read.
The charges come against the backdrop of a wider crackdown on alleged electoral fraud by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the latest development marked the highest increase in voter-fraud arrests since Trump resumed office.
“Today’s announcement marks the largest surge of voter-fraud arrests since President Trump returned to office,” Blanche said.
“These foreign nationals allegedly took advantage of the trust of the American people and flouted the laws that govern our nation’s elections. This Department of Justice will continue investigating and prosecuting voter fraud to restore confidence in our electoral system,” he added.
The charges come against the backdrop of a wider crackdown on alleged electoral fraud by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the latest development marked the highest increase in voter-fraud arrests since Trump resumed office.
“Today’s announcement marks the largest surge of voter-fraud arrests since President Trump returned to office,” Blanche said.
“These foreign nationals allegedly took advantage of the trust of the American people and flouted the laws that govern our nation’s elections. This Department of Justice will continue investigating and prosecuting voter fraud to restore confidence in our electoral system,” he added.