Noncitizen who disrupted ICE charged with illegally registering to vote

A Honduran immigrant who previously faced charges for disrupting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations has been arrested for allegedly registering to vote illegally in California. Darwin Jonathan Rivera-Flores, a noncitizen, submitted his voter registration form last year, despite lacking U.S. citizenship, according to law enforcement authorities. Rivera-Flores was cited earlier this year for obstructing access to a government facility where ICE operates. He admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge in May and was placed on probation with instructions to avoid the location. During his pending case, he reportedly confronted an ICE officer near the site and made threats against the individual. When the agency attempted to contact him via phone, Rivera began receiving threatening messages from unknown callers. One message asked, “Who’s [sic] human rights have you violated today?” Another claimed, “Your not the good guy” and “I can’t wait until the mid terms you don’t have qualified immunity then we can start and indict all you guys one bye [sic] one.” The ICE agent, whose identity is redacted in public records, noted that Rivera had entered the country as a minor in 2002 but had never applied for or obtained citizenship. Upon investigation, the agent discovered that Rivera had registered to vote, claiming to be a citizen on the application. There is no indication in official court filings that he actually cast a ballot. His registration form, dated November 4, 2025, coincided with the date of California’s vote on Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed congressional district map. However, the last federal election occurred in 2024, prior to the submission of the registration. This case follows broader efforts by the Trump administration to identify noncitizens on voting rolls. In a recent televised address, President Trump highlighted that Homeland Security had flagged over 190,000 individuals suspected of being noncitizens on California’s voter list. State officials have historically dismissed concerns about noncitizen voting, often citing lack of evidence. In 2024, when The Washington Times requested records of noncitizens removed from the rolls, the California Secretary of State’s office stated it lacked data on such incidents. Despite state-level denials, local jurisdictions have taken steps to address the issue. Orange County, for instance, informed federal authorities last year that it had removed 17 individuals from its voter rolls after discovering they were not U.S. citizens. This action followed reports from noncitizens who received ballots through California’s all-mail election system. Authorities emphasize that California allows noncitizens to register and receive ballots by mail, potentially enabling unauthorized participation in elections. Bill Essayli, acting U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, remarked that the arrest marks the beginning of increased scrutiny into such cases. He warned that due to the ease of registration, the number of noncitizens on the rolls could be substantial. The case underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring electoral integrity amid legal frameworks that permit noncitizen participation.