A Cuban national named Carlos Javier Alamo-Sorino is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after confessing to voting illegally in a U.S. election, according to an official statement issued on Friday.
The federal agency describes Alamo-Sorino as an undocumented immigrant with a criminal record who was released on parole during the Obama administration. ICE reports that he has previous convictions for sexual assault, another sexual offense, burglary, theft, and harassing communications.
ICE's Nationwide Crackdown on Electoral Fraud
This case is part of a broader national effort to combat alleged electoral fraud, a campaign that the Trump administration intensified in the weeks leading up to the legislative elections on November 3, 2026.
The statement released Friday outlines 17 cases of foreign nationals apprehended for voting-related offenses, hailing from countries such as Guatemala, India, Russia, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and Cuba, among others.
"Secure elections safeguard the sovereignty of our nation and the sacred right of Americans to vote. We've uncovered hundreds of cases of electoral fraud, and the scope of the problem continues to grow. Every vote cast by an illegal alien cancels out the vote of an American citizen," stated Micah Bock, ICE's Public Affairs Director.
Impact on the Cuban Community and Legal Challenges
Alamo-Sorino is not the only Cuban facing charges in this context. On October 26, the Department of Justice announced charges against 48 foreign nationals in five states, including four Cubans: Alfredo Santiesteban, 73, in Pennsylvania; Osmal Loy, 70, also in Pennsylvania; Jamie Orlando Sosa Sardina, 60, in Florida; and Luis Manuel Pérez, 72, also in Florida.
Earlier, the Department of Justice filed charges against two other Cubans, permanent residents in Florida identified by their initials, accused of illegal voting in 2022 and 2024. One of them faces up to five years in prison for falsely claiming to be a citizen to register as a voter.
In early October, Andrés García, a 64-year-old Cuban permanent resident in Kansas City, was arrested for allegedly participating in at least 15 elections over two decades, including 13 federal ones.
Civil Rights Groups Push Back Against Voter Investigations
In parallel with the arrests, civil rights organizations filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday to halt the so-called "Unlawful Voter Initiative," a USCIS program launched in August 2026 that reassigned hundreds of agents to investigate naturalized citizens as potential illegal voters.
The lawsuit against USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security notes that a sample analysis revealed that 38.9% of those identified by the program as possible non-citizens were actually born in the United States.
Florida, home to approximately 691,000 registered voters of Cuban descent, is one of the states prioritized by the federal program.
With 66% of Cuban immigrants in the U.S. being naturalized citizens, this community is particularly vulnerable to scrutiny under this initiative.
Understanding Voter Fraud Allegations Involving Cubans
What led to Carlos Javier Alamo-Sorino's arrest by ICE?
Carlos Javier Alamo-Sorino was arrested by ICE after admitting to voting illegally in a U.S. election, despite being an undocumented immigrant with a criminal record.
How does ICE justify its crackdown on alleged voter fraud?
ICE claims that secure elections are essential to protect national sovereignty and the voting rights of Americans. The agency has reported numerous cases of voter fraud, emphasizing that illegal votes undermine the democratic process.
What legal actions have been taken against Cuban nationals for voting-related offenses?
Several Cuban nationals have been charged with voting-related offenses, including illegal voting and falsely claiming citizenship to register as voters. These cases are part of a broader effort to address alleged electoral fraud.