Three cases recently announced by federal prosecutors in South Florida are reigniting debate over election security, voter registration safeguards, and the extent to which non-citizen voting occurs in federal elections.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, three foreign nationals were prosecuted after authorities determined they had unlawfully registered and voted in federal elections despite not being eligible to do so.
One case involved Moises Lima Junior, a Brazilian national who became a lawful permanent resident on January 17, 2024. Prosecutors said he registered to vote a month later after falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. Authorities alleged that he then cast a ballot in a federal election on October 21, 2024. Lima later pleaded guilty to making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and to voting as a non-citizen. He was sentenced on May 27.
Another case centered on Gordon Louis, a Haitian national and convicted felon. Federal prosecutors said Louis voted in multiple federal races during the 2020 election cycle despite not being a U.S. citizen. He pleaded guilty to voting by an alien and was sentenced in April.
The third defendant, Roberto Figueredo, is a Cuban national whose lawful permanent resident status had previously been revoked. Prosecutors said he remained in the United States after being ordered removed and later submitted a voter registration application in Florida in January 2020. Authorities alleged that he falsely claimed U.S. citizenship and eligibility to vote despite being a non-citizen and a convicted felon whose voting rights had not been restored. Prosecutors said he subsequently voted in a federal election in October 2020. Figueredo later pleaded guilty to casting a false ballot and voting by an alien.
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones emphasized that federal law limits participation in federal elections to American citizens.
“Federal law is clear: only United States citizens may vote in federal elections,” Quiñones said in a statement. “The Southern District of Florida is committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring that those who undermine public confidence in the electoral process are held accountable.”
The cases arrive amid a continuing national argument over election integrity and voter registration procedures. Supporters of stricter election safeguards point to prosecutions such as these as evidence that unlawful voting can occur and that voter rolls require continual review. Others note that documented cases are relatively rare compared to the total number of ballots cast nationwide and argue that existing enforcement mechanisms are identifying and prosecuting violations.
The issue has also surfaced in other states. Recent reports have highlighted efforts by political organizations and election officials to review voter registration databases for potential inaccuracies, including registrations involving non-citizens.
