Federal prosecutors say a noncitizen in Los Angeles checked “I am a U.S. citizen” to register to vote, and now he is under arrest.
Story Highlights
- Justice Department says a Honduran-born lawful resident falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on a California voter form.
- Certified records show the citizenship box was marked and a U.S. birthplace listed, dated November 4, 2025.
- Prosecutors say he never voted, narrowing the case to unlawful registration and a false claim of citizenship.
- California law and state guidance require U.S. citizenship to register and make false registration a crime.
Federal Arrest Centers On Alleged False Citizenship Claim
Federal prosecutors announced the arrest of Darwin Rivera Flores, a Honduran-born lawful permanent resident living in the San Fernando Valley. Officials allege he registered to vote in California by marking a voter form that declared he is a United States citizen. The United States Department of Justice press release states there is no record that Rivera ever sought or obtained citizenship, a key element for the charge. Agents say Rivera entered the United States in 2002 and remains a noncitizen today.
Prosecutors say they secured certified election records from California. Those records include a voter registration application number, a receipt, and a signature image tied to Rivera. The complaint summary says the application marked “no” to help filling out the form and affirmed the statement “I am a U.S. citizen.” Investigators also found an online record listing his Winnetka address and a birthplace field shown as “United States of America,” which conflicts with their immigration findings.
Documents Tie Registration To November 4, 2025 Submission
The Justice Department says the voter application bears a November 4, 2025 date and carries a warning under penalty of perjury. That date gives prosecutors a clear time anchor for the alleged offense. Officials also state Rivera did not vote in any election, which means the case focuses on unlawful registration and making a false claim of citizenship, not ballot casting or tabulation. That distinction matters for penalties and for how election systems handled his record.
California election law makes this alleged conduct a state crime as well. The California Elections Code states that a person who willfully causes or allows himself to be registered, knowing he is not entitled, can face imprisonment. State guidance also sets a bright line: only United States citizens may register, and both federal and state law require applicants to check a citizenship box on the affidavit of registration. The form’s checkbox is not a formality; it is a legal statement.
How This Fits The Larger Election-Integrity Picture
This arrest arrives during a broader national effort to protect voter rolls. Under President Trump, federal agencies have pressed states for transparency on how they identify and remove noncitizens from rolls, citing federal law and the need for accurate lists. Separate reviews by election researchers say noncitizen registration cases are rare and that early public claims often overstate scope, but they also confirm that isolated violations do occur and should be prosecuted when proven.
🚨 Election Fraud Arrests Begin
This morning we arrested and federally charged a Honduran national for unlawfully registering to vote in California and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen.
Darwin Jonathan Rivera Flores, 30, of Winnetka, is charged with two felonies and faces… pic.twitter.com/QaYbhn9Abx
— American patriot (@Analegijacasti) August 29, 2026
Conservatives will see the stakes clearly here. Citizenship is the bedrock rule for voting. When a person who is not a citizen checks that box, it strikes at one person, one vote. Federal prosecutors say they have certified records, dates, and a signature image to back this charge. California’s own laws and rules make the standard plain. Enforcing those rules protects legal voters across all parties and helps restore trust in close races where every vote counts.
What Prosecutors Say They Can Prove — And What Comes Next
The government points to three anchors: Rivera’s noncitizen status, the marked citizenship statement on the registration, and the dated application. Prosecutors also say he never cast a ballot, which keeps focus on the registration act itself. The case now moves to court, where evidence like certified records from the California Secretary of State and county officials will face the usual legal tests. An arrest is a charge, not a conviction, and Rivera is presumed innocent.
For readers asking what to watch, look for filings that confirm the chain of custody for the certified application and any registrar testimony on record searches. Expect defense counsel to review how the application was submitted and authenticated. But the core legal line is simple and firm: only citizens may register to vote in California, and the checkbox is a sworn claim. Prosecutors say this arrest shows that line will be enforced, as it should be, to protect fair elections.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, epochtimes.com, x.com
