An illegal immigrant living in Beloit has been charged with voting in Wisconsin’s November 2022 general election, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was charged Sept. 2 in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin with voting as an alien. Prosecutors said he knew he was not a U.S. citizen when he cast a ballot on Nov. 8, 2022, in an election that included races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
If convicted, Jurado Garcia faces up to one year in prison. A judge would impose any sentence under federal law and sentencing guidelines. A criminal information is an accusation and does not establish guilt.
“Protecting the integrity of federal elections is a fundamental responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. “The charge against this defendant reflects our commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring that every vote cast complies fully with federal requirements. No one is above these obligations, and my office will continue to pursue cases where unlawful voting occurs.”0
The Wisconsin case was part of a broader announcement this week charging five people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin with illegal voting or fraudulent registration in the 2022 or 2024 elections. The Justice Department said the defendants include two illegal immigrants, two other noncitizens and one U.S. citizen charged with aiding and abetting.16
Federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Wisconsin law likewise requires voters to be U.S. citizens.
Efforts to reach Jurado Garcia were not immediately successful. A person matching his name, age and city remains listed as a registered voter on the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s public voter lookup, records reviewed by local news outlets showed, with voting activity only in the November 2022 election.4
The 2022 midterm ballot in Wisconsin also included races for governor and other statewide offices. Prosecutors said the federal charge is based on the illegal immigrant’s vote in contests that included federal offices.
