ICE detains Peruvian permanent resident for illegal voting in Kansas election

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mariana Alexandra Dewey, a Peruvian citizen who holds lawful permanent resident status, after she admitted to voting in the November 5, 2024 general election in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Dewey had submitted a voter registration form and cast a provisional ballot, falsely swearing she was a U.S. citizen. In an interview with investigators, she confirmed she was not a citizen and acknowledged her illegal vote, later pleading guilty to disorderly election conduct under state law.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the case underscores the administration's crackdown on non-citizens voting, warning that such actions undermine the rights of American voters. The department highlighted recent enforcement actions involving individuals from Colombia, Slovakia, Australia, Mexico, Mauritania and others, as part of a nationwide effort to protect election integrity.