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An undocumented immigrant has agreed to plead guilty to charges involving the theft of a U.S. citizen’s identity, which she used to vote in multiple elections and fraudulently obtain a U.S. passport, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Angelica Maria Francisco, 42, who was most recently residing in Russellville, Alabama, faces nine federal charges. These include making false claims of U.S. citizenship in connection with voting, providing false statements in a U.S. passport application, using a passport obtained under false pretenses, and aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors stated that Francisco assumed a U.S. citizen’s identity around 2011, using it to obtain a passport that same year. She allegedly used the fraudulent passport to travel between the U.S. and her native Guatemala multiple times, including in 2012, 2015, and 2018. Additionally, she is accused of registering to vote in Alabama under this false identity in 2016, casting ballots in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
A plea agreement was filed on Thursday, indicating Francisco will plead guilty to all nine charges, according to U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama and Joseph R. Wysowaty, the Resident Agent in Charge at the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Atlanta Office.
Widespread Voter Fraud Concerns
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, praised the investigation and reiterated his commitment to ensuring election integrity. “Only eligible American citizens should be allowed to vote in Alabama elections,” Allen said in a statement. He also thanked federal authorities for their work and promised full cooperation with law enforcement in prosecuting those who commit voter fraud.
Allen has been a vocal critic of policies he believes weaken election safeguards. He has previously raised concerns over President Biden’s Executive Order 14019, which directs federal agencies to promote voter registration without verifying citizenship status, warning that such policies could allow non-citizens to vote.
The case against Francisco was investigated by the DSS, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, East Metro Area Crime Center, and the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.
Multiple Allegations of Fraud
Beyond her alleged voting fraud, Francisco is also accused of renewing her fraudulently obtained passport in 2021 and using it for travel in 2022. The use of false documents in such cases raises concerns about national security, U.S. officials said, noting that fraudulent identity use can complicate efforts to secure borders and enforce immigration laws.
Ongoing Political Debate
The case comes as Republican lawmakers push for tighter voter identification laws. At the recent Republican National Convention, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen discussed his efforts with House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.” The proposed legislation would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and enforce the removal of non-citizens from voter rolls.
High-profile Republican Senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah, have also pushed for the SAVE Act to be included in federal spending negotiations. Lawmakers argue that strengthening voter identification requirements would protect the integrity of elections and prevent non-citizen voting.
This case, involving Francisco’s multiple illegal actions, has become another rallying point for Republicans advocating for election security reforms.
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