A Peruvian national has been arrested and charged with multiple criminal offenses after allegedly voting in the 2024 election despite not being a U.S. citizen.
Special agents with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations arrested Mariana Alexandra Dewey, 24, of Wichita, Kansas, on Sept. 1.
Dewey, a citizen of Peru, is accused of voting illegally in the Nov. 5, 2024 election in Sedgwick County, Kansas, by “misrepresenting herself as a legal U.S. citizen,” according to DHS.
DHS said investigators reviewed election records that showed Dewey signed a provisional poll book at the Hope Church polling location in Kansas and submitted a Kansas voter registration application on Nov. 5, 2024.
The two documents contained statements affirming Dewey’s voter eligibility, including alleged U.S. citizenship, DHS said.
Dewey allegedly marked “yes” in response to a question on the voter registration form asking if she was a citizen of the United States.
Dewey was contacted by an investigator on April 1, 2026, after moving to a different address.
She initially told the investigator that she was a U.S. citizen before clarifying that she was not actually a citizen but a lawful permanent resident, according to DHS.
Dewey also allegedly confirmed that she had voted in the 2024 election.
After Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested Dewey at a residence in Wichita on Sept. 1, she was transported for processing at a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility for violating U.S. immigration law.
“This alien violated the sacred right of every American citizen. If even one non-citizen votes, that steals the voice of a U.S. citizen,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement on Thursday.
“Only American citizens have the right to participate in our political and election processes, and DHS will continue to investigate, seek criminal prosecution, and ultimately remove aliens who vote to ensure free, fair, and honest elections.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas announced on Thursday that a federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment that charged Dewey with multiple criminal offenses.
Dewey was charged with one count of false claim of citizenship and one count of false claim of U.S. citizenship in order to vote, the attorney’s office said, citing court documents.
Additional charges against Dewey include one count of voting by an alien in a federal election and one count of fraudulent election conduct.
“The Department of Justice remains committed to protecting election integrity and is actively investigating and prosecuting these cases,” U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said in a statement.
“With another election looming, the department’s effort serves as a stark reminder to individuals who are not legally authorized to vote not to engage in this conduct.
“Should individuals be determined by a court of law to have illegally claimed U.S. citizenship and voted or attempted to vote in federal elections, they will face serious criminal consequences.”
Dewey is scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas on Sept. 14.
The Epoch Times was unable to reach Dewey or her legal representation for comment.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler.
DHS said that Dewey’s arrest was part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to stop noncitizens from voting in U.S. elections.
Five individuals were charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin last week for crimes related to illegally voting in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
The Trump administration has also called for U.S. lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act, which has remained stalled in the Senate.
The bill would require people to provide documented proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told The Epoch Times on Sept. 10 that only American citizens should be voting to elect American leaders.
“Despite extreme Democrats and the media claiming it never happens, the evidence of non-citizens registering and voting in our elections continues to pile up,” she said in an emailed statement.
“Any non-citizens registering to vote in our elections continues to pile up. Any non-citizens found registering and voting in our elections will be arrested and held accountable.”
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