ICE Investigation Leads to Sentencing of Illegal Alien Who Committed Identity Theft to Illegally Vote in Elections for More Than 20 Years
This illegal alien falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to obtain a driver’s license and register to vote
WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the sentencing of a criminal illegal alien who falsely claimed U.S. citizenship for more than 20 years, allowing him to vote in multiple elections.
On August 12, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia, was sentenced to three years in a federal prison after he pleaded guilty to making false statements in application for a U.S. passport, aggravated identity theft, falsely claiming a Social Security number, and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship.
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Jaramillo-Grajales used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and obtain a passport. He then used the same information to claim U.S. citizenship, apply for and obtain a Florida driver’s license, and register to vote. He voted in several elections, including the 2020 general election.
Under his false name, Jaramillo-Grajales married a woman who came to the United States in September 2003 on a visitor’s visa, allowing her to apply for naturalization, as she was purportedly married to a U.S. citizen. After her naturalization in August 2017, they divorced in January 2020 and he returned to Colombia under his false name. His ex-wife then flew to Colombia and filed an application for a fiancé visa for him under his real name. After this visa was approved, Jaramillo-Grajales flew back to the United States under his real name, remarried his ex-wife in June 2025, and applied for permanent residence based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
“This criminal illegal alien from Colombia has just been sentenced to three years in a federal prison for identity theft and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Because of his fraud, he was able to obtain a driver’s license and vote in our elections. Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of HSI, along with our federal partners, this criminal is out of our communities and, at the end of his sentence, will be removed from our country. DHS will always fight to protect the integrity of our elections, because election security is national security. Only Americans should be electing American leaders.”
“Federal immigration laws serve to safeguard our nation’s borders and protect the integrity of our government,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Those who seek to circumvent, exploit, or break these laws will be prosecuted fully.”
“This criminal illegal alien spent years exploiting a stolen identity of a United States citizen to obtain government documents, claim benefits, and unlawfully participate in the electoral process,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “This conviction demonstrates that identity theft, immigration fraud, and fraud against the integrity of United States government systems will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. HSI remains committed to protecting victims, safeguarding public institutions, and ensuring that those who abuse our immigration and identification systems are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by HSI, along with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Jaramillo-Grajales illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.
This sentencing is part of the Trump Administration’s broader focus on stopping non-citizens from voting in American elections. Recent examples include:
- In July, HSI arrested Marian Charitun, an alien from Slovakia who had illegally voted in the 2022 election in New Jersey.
- In July, an HSI investigation led to the arrest of Denise Nataly Migliore, an alien from Australia who illegally voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Louisiana.
- In May, DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against four non-citizens in New Jersey who illegally voted in federal elections and made false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship.
- In April, Jose Ceballos, an alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to THREE counts of disorderly election conduct after illegally voting multiple times and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen in Kansas.
- In March, ICE arrested Mahady Sacko, a criminal illegal alien from Mauritania who had been illegally voting in the United States since 2008.
In recent months, DHS has taken additional steps to safeguard the integrity and security of American elections. These measures include:
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