FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The Department of Justice has charged 28 people in California with voting and registration crimes as part of an operation targeting alleged voter fraud.
The DOJ said it has arrested 11 people, including three from the Central Valley.
Prosecutors accuse them of voting in U.S. elections while they were not citizens.
The operation comes weeks before the midterm elections, as the Trump administration claims more than 20,000 people in California’s voter rolls may not be citizens.
Immigration attorney Jesus Ibanez said the timing could intimidate people who have become U.S. citizens.
“For those individuals who are naturalized, right, from my point of view, it’s kind of like an intimidation tactic,” Ibanez said. “You better not vote, you better not even register to vote because we might come after you for voter fraud.”
FOX 26 joined federal agents during a ride-along on Monday.
In Fresno, agents knocked on two doors.
No one answered, and agents left without making arrests.
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Ibanez said the door-to-door approach was unusual.
“I have not, in the recent past, heard of federal agents going door to door knocking for individuals to see if they committed voter fraud,” Ibanez said.
Ibanez said legal permanent residents convicted of voting or registering to vote could face arrest, lose their residency, and be deported.
“Please be very careful,” Ibanez said.