DHS Investigates Illegal Voting Allegations in New Jersey, Several Non-Citizens Charged

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced enforcement actions and ongoing investigations into allegations of non-citizens illegally voting in New Jersey elections. These actions follow admissions from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill regarding thousands of non-citizens reportedly registered to vote in the state. The department’s efforts involve joint investigations with other federal agencies to uphold the integrity of American elections.

Following a collaborative investigation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), four non-citizens residing in New Jersey have been charged with federal crimes. These charges are connected to unlawful voting in federal elections and providing false information during the naturalization application process. The individuals named in these charges include Idan Choresh, Jacenth Emelyn Beadle Exum, David Gboty Neewilly, and Abhinandan Vig.

Idan Choresh, a 43-year-old national of Israel, is accused of voting in the 2022 election. His charges include voting by an alien in a federal election, making false statements related to his naturalization process, and unlawfully procuring citizenship or naturalization. Choresh initially arrived in the U.S. in January 2001, received a green card in July 2020, and applied for U.S. citizenship in May 2025. Jacenth Emelyn Beadle Exum, a 70-year-old individual from Jamaica, is charged with making false statements in relation to naturalization, stemming from her alleged vote in the 2020 election. She entered the U.S. in July 2000, obtained a green card in July 2004, applied for naturalization in May 2021, and was naturalized in August 2022.

David Gboty Neewilly, a 73-year-old from Liberia, faces charges of voting by an alien in a federal election and making false statements related to naturalization, for allegedly voting in both the 2020 and 2024 elections. Neewilly first arrived in the U.S. in July 1998, was granted a green card in June 2014, and submitted a naturalization application in May 2025. Abhinandan Vig, a 33-year-old national of India, is charged with unlawfully procuring citizenship or naturalization, in connection with his reported vote in the 2020 election. Vig entered the U.S. in June 2012 and applied for naturalization in March 2024.

The enforcement actions highlight a broader concern within the Department of Homeland Security regarding non-citizens participating in U.S. elections. Earlier this month, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin communicated concerns to the secretaries of state in four states, including New Jersey, indicating that tens of thousands of non-citizens might be registered to vote. These communications highlight the department’s commitment to identifying and addressing instances of illegal voting to ensure the electoral process is conducted in accordance with U.S. law. The investigation and subsequent charges serve as a reminder to all residents of the importance of adhering to citizenship and voting requirements in the United States.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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