ICE Arrests Bahamian National With Violent Record for Illegal Voting in 2020 Election
US authorities have removed multiple non-citizens accused of illegal voting and other election-related crimes, including the first use of a special terror court to deport an Afghan woman linked to an ISIS plot, as part of a broader crackdown on election integrity.
ICE Arrests Green Card Holder for Illegal 2020 Vote
A Bahamian national and green card holder, Anthony Tyrone Higgs, was arrested by ICE in Georgia on September 3 for illegally voting in the 2020 election. [1] He has a criminal record including armed robbery, domestic violence, assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, grand larceny and weapons possession. [1] HSI’s Atlanta office arrested Higgs in Decatur, Georgia on September 3, and he is currently in the custody of ERO. [1] Higgs was admitted into the U.S. in October 1976 as a Lawful Permanent Resident. [1] The Trump DHS has since placed him in proceedings to revoke his immigration status due to his lengthy rap sheet. [1] "This alien was a guest in our country who forfeited his right to be in the U.S. when he committed these violent crimes and voted in the 2020 election," White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital. [1] "Any non-citizens who vote illegally in our elections will be arrested and removed. American elections are only for Americans." [1] "This criminal alien from the Bahamas has a rap sheet for multiple violent crimes, including armed robbery, domestic violence, and assault on a police officer," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. [1] "On top of all of that, he illegally voted in the 2020 election," he added. [1] Of the voting-related charge, Mullin said that just one noncitizen casting a ballot is enough to cancel out an American citizen’s vote. [1] "Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of ICE, this criminal will be removed from our country and can never interfere in our elections again," he continued. [1]
First Use of Alien Terrorist Removal Court
An Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, was removed to Afghanistan on August 25 via the first-ever case before the Alien Terrorist Removal Court after she conceded she is an alien terrorist. [3] Her son pleaded guilty to plotting a mass-casualty ISIS attack on 2024 US election day. [3] Nazira Haji Zada, 47, a Texas resident, was removed from the United States on 25 August on the orders of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court in Washington. [3] The ATRC was established by Congress 30 years ago but had never previously been used. [3] It allows for the presentation of classified evidence whose public disclosure the government believes would endanger national security. [3] The Department of Justice said that Zada, who came to the United States in 2018, "conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order." [3] "This landmark case, resulting in the prompt removal of this alien terrorist to her country of origin, is a win for national security and the rule of law," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. [3] Zada's son, Abdullah Haji Zada pleaded guilty alongside a co-conspirator, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, to plotting an attack on US election day in 2024 on behalf of the Islamic State. [3] Abdullah Haji Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2025. [3] Tawhedi is awaiting sentencing. [3] According to court documents, the pair purchased two AK-47 rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI employee to carry out a "mass-casualty attack." [3] The Department of Justice's public announcement of Zada's removal was made on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington. [3]
Additional Non-Citizen Voter Fraud Cases Cited
Other recent cases include a Colombian illegal immigrant sentenced to three years for identity theft and illegal voting over 20 years, a Slovakian national who voted in 2022 midterms, an Australian accused of voting in 2022 and 2024 in Louisiana, and a Mauritanian charged with multiple counts of voter fraud in Philadelphia. [1] In August, Colombian illegal immigrant Carlos Jaramillo-Grajales was sentenced to three years in prison following an ICE investigation that led to a guilty plea in a case where he was found to have committed identity theft to illegally vote in elections for more than 20 years. [1] "Federal immigration laws serve to safeguard our nation’s borders and protect the integrity of our government," said Gregory Kehoe, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. [1] In New Jersey, a Slovakian national was found to have illegally voted in the 2022 midterms, according to HSI. [1] HSI also cited the case of an Australian national accused of illegally casting ballots in both 2022 and 2024 in Louisiana. [1] Mauritanian national Mahady Sacko was busted by an ICE and FBI partnership in Democrat-run Philadelphia, and charged with voter fraud. [1] Sacko allegedly voted illegally multiple times going back to 2008. [1] He was already under an order of removal, DHS said in a statement, stating that he "exhausted all appeals" and an immigration board upheld his removal order as of 2002 but he remained in the country. [1]
Honduran National Charged in California
A Honduran national was federally charged with voter fraud in California after registering and voting under an alias using a gym membership card. [1] Federal prosecutors charge a Honduran national with voter fraud in California after he allegedly registered to vote under an alias and cast ballots in multiple elections. [1] The case highlights ongoing debates surrounding voter identification laws. [1] The federal indictment details reveal the suspect received a voter registration card using a gym membership. [1]
Punjab Gangster Extradited from Moldova
Moldova extradited wanted Punjab gangster Amritpal Singh to India on September 12; he faces charges including double murder, Arms Act and NDPS Act violations, forgery and passport fraud. [5] The Central Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the ministry of external affairs, ministry of home affairs and Punjab Police, has secured the extradition of Red Notice subject Amritpal Singh alias Gurpal Singh from Moldova to India. [5] Singh is wanted in multiple serious criminal cases in Punjab, including double murder using firearms and offences under the Arms Act and NDPS Act. [5] His criminal antecedents also include cases related to forgery, cheating, use of forged documents and violations of the Passport Act. [5] The extradition followed a request from Punjab Police, after which the CBI secured an Interpol Red Notice against Singh. [5] He was subsequently located and arrested by Moldovan authorities. [5] Following due legal process, Moldova granted his extradition to India. [5] A four-member Punjab Police team travelled to Chisinau, Moldova, to bring Singh back to India. [5] The team, along with Singh, arrived in Delhi on September 12. [5] Singh, also known as Amrit Dalam, was among the most wanted gangsters linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. [5] He is a native of Dalam Nangal village in Batala and had fled India using a fake passport and was allegedly making extortion calls to businessmen, particularly in the Amritsar region. [5] Punjab Police had also established the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell to track criminals hiding abroad and pursue their extradition to Punjab. [5] Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had said Singh was wanted in several serious cases, including murder, attempted murder and drug smuggling. [5]
Nigerian University Students Released After Abduction
The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, has confirmed the safe release of two female students who were abducted on campus on Sunday. [4] The university’s Public Relations Officer, Orakwe Ezugwu, confirmed this in a press release in Owerri on Friday. [4] Mr Ezugwu said the students were receiving medical care and psychological support at the university’s medical centre. [4] He said the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Ikechukwu Dozie, had visited the students and interacted with them. [4] Mr Ezugwu said the university management praised the police and other security agencies for prompt intervention. [4] “Management assures students, staff, parents and the university community that additional security measures are being sustained in collaboration with relevant security agencies. [4] Members of the university community are urged to remain calm and vigilant, and report any suspicious activity,” he said. [4]
What to watch next: Tawhedi awaits sentencing in the ISIS-linked case while additional security measures remain in place at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, following the students’ release.
