Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe raised alarms about vulnerabilities in U.S. elections on ‘The Big Weekend Show.’
Boothe criticized the current reliance on an honor system for verifying citizenship. She pointed to instances of noncitizens registering to vote as a significant concern. Boothe emphasized the necessity of securing voter rolls to restore trust in election integrity.
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a Colombian national, was recently sentenced to three years in prison for identity theft and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he used this falsified status to participate in U.S. elections over nearly 20 years.
“Because of his fraud, he was able to obtain a driver’s license and vote in our elections,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated.
Mullin stressed that election security is a matter of national security, insisting that only Americans should elect American leaders.
The sentencing of Jaramillo-Grajales follows ongoing debates in Washington, D.C. over legislative measures needed to strengthen voter verification processes. This case demonstrates the ways noncitizens have managed to secure state identification, according to lawmakers.
In a communication earlier this year, Mullin addressed secretaries of state in California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. He highlighted concerns with voter registrations, noting that up to 190,830 noncitizens had registered to vote in California.
Jaramillo-Grajales initiated his scheme by using a U.S. citizen’s identification to obtain a U.S. passport in 2003. This enabled him to get a Florida driver’s license and register to vote. DHS confirmed his participation in the 2020 election and others under this false identity.
Investigators disclosed Jaramillo-Grajales exploited the stolen identity for various purposes. Tim Hemker from Homeland Security Investigations remarked on the prolonged misuse, highlighting the acquisition of government documents and benefits through deceit.
The DHS referenced other cases to illustrate ongoing issues. Marian Chariton, originally from Slovakia, voted illegally in New Jersey’s 2022 election, claiming U.S. citizenship falsely. Similarly, Jose Ceballos from Mexico faced charges in Kansas for assuming a false citizen identity.
“Thanks to HSI’s dedicated efforts, in collaboration with our federal partners, this criminal is now out of our communities and will be deported following his sentence,” Mullin noted.
The case was rigorously investigated by multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Prosecutor Arnold B. Corsmeier, Assistant United States Attorney, handled the case.
Reporter Leo Briceno from Fox News Digital, formerly of World Magazine, covered this development.
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