Australian Lawful Permanent Resident Arrested for Illegally Voting in Two Federal Elections

An Australian national and lawful permanent resident living in Louisiana has been arrested and charged with illegally voting in the 2022 and 2024 U.S. federal elections after an investigation uncovered that she falsely claimed American citizenship to register and cast ballots. The case, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on July 7, 2026, underscores ongoing efforts to enforce voter eligibility laws amid repeated assertions from some political figures that non-citizen voting is exceedingly rare.

Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, originally from Sydney, Australia, and a resident of Franklinton, Louisiana, was indicted on June 11, 2026, by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana on four counts: two for illegal voting in a federal election and two for making false statements in connection with registering to vote. She faces potential penalties of up to five years in prison for each count under federal statutes prohibiting non-citizens from voting in federal elections and barring false claims of citizenship for voter registration purposes.

According to the indictment and DHS statements, Migliore, who holds lawful permanent resident status in the United States, knowingly misrepresented her citizenship status to election officials in order to register and then participated in the 2022 midterm elections and the 2024 presidential election. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the FBI, conducted the probe that led to her identification and arrest. On July 1, 2026, HSI agents took her into custody at the federal courthouse in New Orleans.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Investigations Lauren Bis emphasized the administration’s commitment to upholding election integrity, stating that the message to non-citizens who vote is clear: authorities will locate them, make arrests, pursue criminal charges, and pursue deportation where applicable. “Only Americans should be electing American leaders,” Bis said. The case aligns with broader federal and state initiatives under the current administration to investigate and prosecute instances of non-citizen participation in U.S. elections.

This arrest adds to a growing list of documented cases involving non-citizens who have attempted to or successfully participated in American elections despite legal prohibitions. Federal law explicitly bars non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents, from voting in federal elections, with violations carrying serious criminal and immigration consequences. While some critics maintain that such incidents are isolated or statistically insignificant, enforcement actions like this one demonstrate that proactive investigations can uncover violations that might otherwise go undetected.

Migliore’s case originated in Louisiana, where state and federal authorities have prioritized scrutiny of voter rolls and registration processes. The indictment details specific acts of registering under false pretenses and casting ballots in two separate federal election cycles. Court records indicate she appeared before a judge following her arrest, though further proceedings, including potential trial dates, remain pending.

The Department of Justice and DHS have highlighted similar enforcement actions in recent months as part of efforts to safeguard the electoral process. These cases often involve individuals who, despite legal status in the country, cross a clear legal line by claiming citizenship they do not possess. Legal experts note that voter registration forms require affirmative statements of citizenship under penalty of perjury, making false claims a federal offense separate from the act of voting itself.

As investigations into election-related fraud continue across multiple jurisdictions, this arrest serves as a reminder that eligibility rules exist for a reason and that violations carry enforceable consequences. Federal authorities have reiterated that protecting the principle of citizen-only voting remains a priority, with resources dedicated to identifying and addressing breaches wherever they occur. The Migliore case, involving participation in two consecutive federal elections, illustrates the potential scope of such violations when they go unchecked until discovered through targeted probes.