Federal agents say a Jamaican permanent resident voted in U.S. elections over 22 years and then denied it under oath.
Story Snapshot
- Homeland Security Investigations arrested 54-year-old Antonio Mitchell on Oct. 28, 2026.
- Officials allege he registered and voted in multiple federal elections from 2000 to 2022.
- Justice Department charged voting by a noncitizen and false statements in naturalization.
- Court papers say he twice denied ever registering or voting during 2025–2026 reviews.
What Authorities Say Happened
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents arrested Antonio Mitchell in New Jersey on October 28, 2026. The agency described Mitchell as a Jamaican national and lawful permanent resident. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services worked the case. The agencies allege he registered and cast ballots in multiple federal primary and general elections between 2000 and 2022, a span of 22 years, across New Jersey jurisdictions.
JAMAICAN NATIONAL ARRESTED FOLLOWING 22 YEARS OF ALLEGED ILLEGAL VOTING
ICE arrested Antonio Mitchell, a Jamaican national and lawful permanent resident accused of illegally voting in U.S. elections between 2000 and 2022, despite NOT being an American citizen.
Mitchell…
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) November 3, 2026
The Department of Justice listed Mitchell among defendants charged in a nationwide enforcement action. Prosecutors charged him with voting by an alien, unlawfully attempting to procure citizenship, and making false statements during the naturalization process. The department announced charges involving 63 individuals in election-related cases in the days before the 2026 midterm elections. The release identified Mitchell by name, age, nationality, and current immigration status as a lawful permanent resident.
Alleged False Citizenship And Denials
Reporting on the criminal complaint states that Mitchell registered to vote in New Jersey in 2012 while swearing he was a United States citizen. The complaint also says that on January 31, 2025, during the naturalization process, he answered “No” when asked if he had ever registered or voted in any election. Court papers further allege that he repeated that denial in a March 25, 2026 interview with immigration agents. Those denials now sit at the core of the false statements charges.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local outlets frame the case as a pattern, not a one-off record error. Officials describe participation in multiple federal primaries and general elections over many years. They have not publicly listed each election or ballot. That detail may appear later in court filings or at trial. For now, the government’s position is clear: a long-running series of illegal votes, plus sworn denials during a bid for citizenship.
How The Case Fits The Larger Enforcement Push
The Justice Department’s announcement placed Mitchell’s case inside a broader federal drive on election crimes. The department said it brought cases against dozens of people for illegal voting, fraudulent registration, and related offenses. The government highlighted noncitizen voting as a priority area, often tied to later statements made on naturalization forms. The timing, one day before the midterms, ensured national attention and signaled continued federal focus on election integrity.
American conservative values place election integrity, citizenship truthfulness, and equal rules for all at the center of trust in self-government. The charges, as presented, align with those values. If a noncitizen falsely swore to be a citizen and voted in federal contests for years, that crosses clear legal lines and basic common sense. One brief caveat applies: these are charges, not a conviction. The courtroom, not public debate, will decide intent and guilt based on the records and testimony.
What To Watch Next
Key next steps include the release of the full complaint and any supporting affidavit that might map each alleged vote. Defense filings may address how registration occurred, what notices he received, and whether confusion at a motor vehicle office played any role. Prosecutors will likely focus on sworn statements on the 2012 form and the 2025–2026 denials. The most decisive evidence will be certified voter records and signed materials tied directly to Mitchell.
Sources:
nypost.com, jamaicaobserver.com, justice.gov, pix11.com
