DOJ Arrests 28 in California Amid Midterm Voter Fraud Dispute

Key points

• Federal authorities charged 28 individuals in California, with 11 arrested immediately, for allegedly voting or registering as noncitizens.
• The Justice Department sued California to block the tabulation of mail-in ballots from 20,000 people identified as 'likely' noncitizens.
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber reject the federal claims, citing a lack of evidence and faulty data.
• The DOJ warned local election workers that knowingly processing noncitizen ballots could result in criminal prosecution for aiding and abetting.
• Some charged individuals, such as Kamlesh Shah, claim they voted in good faith or were confused about their eligibility.

Background

This escalation follows a series of federal actions in 2026, including a September crackdown charging 16 individuals across seven states and a late October lawsuit against California. The current dispute centers on the administration's demand for detailed voter data and its attempt to intervene in the November midterms, a period where California has competitive congressional races.

How outlets are covering it

The DOJ, led by Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter, frames the arrests as necessary to protect election integrity, accusing California of 'state-facilitated voter fraud' and inadequate roll maintenance. Conversely, California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, argue that noncitizen voting is rare and that the federal government's data is unsubstantiated. The Guardian and Sacramento Bee highlight that some defendants, like Erick Ronaldo Soto and Jose Probitsado Amaro, acted without malicious intent or were confused by poll workers, while UCLA law professor Rick Hasen notes the small scale of the problem compared to the administration's claims.

Why it matters

The conflict threatens the integrity of the November 3 midterm elections in California, a state with competitive congressional races. The federal government's aggressive tactics, including lawsuits and threats against election workers, could disenfranchise legitimate voters and undermine public trust in the electoral process. The outcome may set a precedent for federal-state relations regarding voter eligibility and election security.

What to watch

The Justice Department seeks a court order to force California to set aside ballots from suspected noncitizens before the November 3 election. Several defendants, including Kamlesh Shah and Giezell Viduya Adawag, are scheduled to appear in federal court in November. The federal government may expand its list of alleged noncitizens beyond the current 20,000, while California continues to defend its election processes in court.