A Guatemalan national living in the United States illegally has been accused of casting a ballot in a national election in Indiana, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Federal officials announced the arrest on Friday, saying the case represents a theft of a vote from American citizens.
Helda Araceli Mendez-Merida was taken into custody on Sept. 3 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Indianapolis, DHS said.
DHS Secretary Comments on Arrest
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE officers arrested the woman after she allegedly voted illegally in a past election.
“The patriots of ICE arrested this illegal alien from Guatemala after she illegally voted in a past election,” Mullin said. “This illegal alien will be deported so she can never again poison our elections.”
Mullin added: “If even one non-citizen casts a vote, it steals a vote from an American citizen.”
Details of the Alleged Voting and Immigration History
Officials said it was not clear which election Mendez-Merida allegedly voted in. According to DHS, she entered the United States illegally through Arizona in September 2015, during the Obama administration.
A U.S. Border Patrol officer arrested her at that time, and she was later released. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal for her in September 2019.
ICE Official: Voting Is Reserved for U.S. Citizens
Patricia Hyde, acting assistant director of ICE’s Enforcement Division, said the right to vote is fundamental to American democracy and that the case involves an attempt to undermine a national election.
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy in the United States,” Hyde said. “Helda Araceli Mendez-Merida attempted to subvert a national election by unlawfully casting a vote.”
Hyde continued: “Voting in U.S. elections is a privilege that is reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens, and we cannot allow that sacred right to be perverted by foreign nationals who seek to undermine American democracy.”
Broader Context
The arrest comes as DHS has approved a plan to verify voter citizenship and monitor mail ballots, amid a push by President Trump to intensify such efforts. DHS has also cited similar cases, including the arrest of a Peruvian national accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election.
