A brand new report from the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) supplied paperwork to bolster the case towards a metropolis mayor from Kansas accused of committing voter fraud whereas residing within the U.S. as a inexperienced card immigrant.
Newsweek reached out to the Coldwater mayor’s workplace by way of electronic mail on Friday night outdoors regular enterprise hours for remark.
Why It Issues
Voter fraud has remained a difficulty of serious focus after President Donald Trump and his allies claimed widespread fraud within the 2020 presidential election, alleging that such points had been the reason for his defeat. Nonetheless, dozens of circumstances introduced towards numerous states and entities to show that such fraud had occurred resulted in nearly no convictions, with a bunch of eight outstanding Republican judges and attorneys issuing a report in 2022 to say that the “unequivocal” conclusion they reached was that the election misplaced by Trump to former President Joe Biden was not “stolen.”
What To Know
DHS on Thursday confirmed paperwork associated to the costs introduced towards Jose “Joe” Ceballos-Armendariz, 54, who received reelection as mayor of Coldwater this month.
Kansas Lawyer Common Kris Kobach on November 5 introduced he had filed expenses towards Ceballos, with three counts of voting with out being certified and three counts of election perjury.
Ceballos is a citizen of Mexico who has been residing in the USA for many years, first acquiring a inexperienced card in 1990, in accordance with DHS. He had utilized for U.S. citizenship in February.
Nonetheless, through the intervening years, he attested on varieties, which DHS posted together with its assertion, that confirmed Ceballos asserting that he’s a U.S. citizen. When he submitted his software for citizenship, he mentioned that he has by no means claimed to be a U.S. citizen, but additionally admitted to registering to vote or having voted in elections within the U.S. DHS additionally famous that Ceballos was convicted of battery in 1995.
Kansas information outlet KAKE reported this week that the town of Coldwater had referred to as a particular assembly after Ceballos’ reelection to debate the costs, with a choice on additional steps nonetheless pending.
Throughout his time as lawyer common, Kobach has pushed for proof-of-citizenship necessities to vote in elections, however the regulation was struck down in 2018.
What Folks Are Saying
Coldwater Metropolis Council President Britt Lenertz, to KAKE: “Right now, our focus stays on guaranteeing that metropolis operations proceed to run easily and that the wants of our group are met. Whereas the current allegations involving the mayor are understandably regarding, we’ll enable the correct authorized course of to take its course earlier than making any additional feedback. It’s vital that we respect each due course of and the integrity of our native authorities.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a press release Thursday: “This alien dedicated a felony by voting in American elections. If convicted, he will likely be positioned in removing proceedings. President Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem gave states entry to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to make sure solely Individuals vote in American elections. The SAVE program is a vital device for state and native governments to safeguard the integrity of elections throughout the nation. Our elections belong to Americans, not international residents.”
Kobach, in a press release earlier this month: “In Kansas, it’s towards the regulation to vote in case you are not a U.S. citizen. We allege that Mr. Ceballos did it a number of occasions,” including, “Voting by noncitizens, together with each authorized and unlawful aliens, is a really actual downside. It occurs. Each time a noncitizen votes, it successfully cancels out a U.S. citizen’s vote.”
What’s Subsequent
Lenertz informed the Kansas Reflector that the Coldwater Metropolis Council is in search of steering on the matter and is unsure about potential penalties if Ceballos is deemed ineligible to take care of his mayoral seat. Amid the tumult, she added, council members are dedicated to maintaining metropolis operations environment friendly, in accordance with the information outlet.
