Senegalese Immigrant Charged In New Jersey For Illegal Voting In Four Elections
Federal agents arrested Senegalese national Sanata Coulibaly in Hudson County, New Jersey, on Friday, September 25, 2026, on federal voting and citizenship-fraud charges.[1]
A criminal complaint says Coulibaly illegally voted in the November 2018 midterm, the July 2020 primary, the November 2020 general election and the 2024 general election before becoming a U.S. citizen.[1] Prosecutors say she registered by paper in Jersey City falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and later denied ever voting on her naturalization form.[1] DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said she is charged with unlawful procurement of citizenship and voting by an alien, and officials described the case as part of a wider DOJ election-integrity initiative.[1] Officials said the initiative has charged 16 people this month.[1]
New Jersey officials recently disclosed that a motor-vehicle software error improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens to vote, and state officials estimate fewer than 400 of them voted.[1] The arrest also comes amid a dispute between New Jersey and the Trump administration over federal access to state voter rolls.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, September 25, 2026, DHS and FBI agents arrested Senegalese national Sanata Coulibaly in Hudson County, New Jersey, on federal voting and citizenship-fraud charges.
- A criminal complaint alleges Coulibaly illegally voted in the November 2018 midterm, July 2020 primary, November 2020 general election and the 2024 general election before becoming a citizen.
- Prosecutors say she registered by paper in Jersey City falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and later denied ever voting when she filed an N-400 naturalization application.
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said she is charged with unlawful procurement of citizenship and voting by an alien, and officials called the case part of a wider DOJ election-integrity initiative that has charged 16 people this month.
- The arrest follows New Jersey's disclosure that a motor-vehicle software error improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens, fewer than 400 of whom are believed to have voted, and an ongoing dispute with the Trump administration over access to state voter rolls.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time