Federal prosecutors have charged five people in Texas with crimes related to alleged voting in federal elections. Prosecutors said none of the five is a U.S. citizen. Four are described as current or former lawful permanent residents, and one, Ali Khan, 33, of La Porte, is described as an illegal alien and a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient.
Khan, Mohammed Omar Hassan, Diego Benavides Rodriguez and Jose Vazquez-Mendoza face charges of voting by an alien in a federal election. Rodriguez also faces a charge of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. A McAllen grand jury indicted Karen Hinojosa-Martinez on a charge of lying on immigration documents after she allegedly voted in a federal election. Prosecutors allege Khan, Hassan and Rodriguez voted in 2024, and Vazquez-Mendoza voted in the 2022 special election for Congressional District 34. Hassan is also alleged to have voted in 2022. The defendants have not been convicted.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, with help from the Texas Attorney General's Office and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said in a press release that federal officials are working to find people who interfere with elections. State Rep. David Lowe (R-District 91) called the allegations outrageous. Chris Russo, who leads Texans for Strong Borders, said the case shows elections need more security and urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act and Texas to review its voter rolls.