Caribbean nationals among 239 charged in US voter fraud crackdown
Several Caribbean nationals face federal charges in the US for alleged illegal voting and fraudulent voter registration. Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Cubans and Haitians are among those arrested.
Caribbean nationals named in sweeping US election fraud prosecutions
Several Caribbean nationals are among hundreds of immigrants facing federal charges in the United States, as authorities ramp up investigations into alleged illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and other election-related offences, caribbeannationalweekly.com reports.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nationals of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Haiti among those arrested in connection with alleged violations of federal election laws.
The US Department of Justice reported that 239 people have been charged with voting-related offences since President Donald Trump returned to office. On 2 November, the department announced that 63 people had been charged in its latest round of election-related cases — including allegations of illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and false claims of US citizenship — bringing the nine-week tally to 195 immigrants charged across 25 states.
US Attorney General Todd Blanche described the scale of the action in direct terms. "Today's announcement marks the largest surge of voter-fraud arrests since President Trump returned to office," Blanche said.
Jamaican nationals face multiple counts
Among those arrested is 54-year-old Jamaican national Antonio Mitchell, a lawful permanent resident accused of voting illegally in a federal election. Federal authorities further allege that Mitchell made false statements on his 2025 application for US citizenship by denying he had previously registered to vote or participated in elections.
A second Jamaican, Kadian Johnson, has reportedly been detained for allegedly voting in the 2024 US election.
Three additional Jamaicans were identified in the Justice Department's latest announcement. Karl Anthony Wilkins, 62, a lawful permanent resident, is accused of falsely claiming US citizenship to register to vote in North Carolina in 2018 and of subsequently voting in the 2020, 2022 and 2024 general elections, as well as the 2020 primary. Garfield St. Vincent Bruce, 48, faces allegations of voting in Tennessee's 2024 election and falsely representing himself as a US citizen on a voter registration form. Antonio Lyttle, 68, is charged with voting illegally in Pennsylvania during the 2024 general election.
Other Caribbean nationals charged
ICE identified Trinidad and Tobago national Sade Shashauna Guppy, accused of voting illegally in 2022, and Cuban national Andres Garcia, who faces allegations of casting a ballot in a federal election despite not holding US citizenship. Haitian national Sirena Prosper was also named among those accused of illegally voting in 2024.
Additional Caribbean nationals identified by the Justice Department include Barbadian Phillip Alexander Carter, Bermudian Gregory Eugene Wade, Trinidad and Tobago nationals Ali Khan and Allison Melissa Wilkes, and Edread Ray Stanley of St. Kitts and Nevis. The cases involve both lawful permanent residents and individuals without legal immigration status.
Legal consequences
ICE Assistant Director of Public Affairs Micah Bock said federal authorities would continue investigating individuals suspected of violating election laws. "Voting in American elections is a right reserved for eligible voters," Bock said, warning that those who knowingly break federal election laws could face serious legal consequences.
Under US federal law, non-citizens — including lawful permanent residents holding green cards — are generally prohibited from voting in federal elections. Certain jurisdictions permit non-citizens to vote in limited local contests, but those exceptions do not cover federal races.
Beyond criminal penalties, the charges can carry immigration consequences. Unlawful voting and false claims of US citizenship may affect eligibility for naturalisation and, depending on circumstances, could trigger deportation proceedings.
Federal officials have characterised the prosecutions as part of broader efforts to strengthen election integrity. The number of people charged does not establish the overall prevalence of non-citizen voting nationwide, nor does it demonstrate that the alleged offences altered any election outcome.
All individuals facing charges are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Source: Google News JM — Crime