Federal authorities arrested a Mauritanian national in Pennsylvania on Monday for allegedly participating in illegal voting over a sixteen-year period.
Mahady Sacko was taken into custody in Philadelphia by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He faces charges related to casting ballots in U.S. elections without citizenship.
Records show that Sacko first entered the United States near Miami, Florida, over twenty years ago and was ordered removed by an immigration judge. His legal appeals were exhausted, and the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld his final removal order on November 14, 2002. Despite this, Sacko reportedly remained in the U.S. and began participating in elections.
Investigators presented evidence including voter registration forms from 2006 and 2020. In 2020, Sacko allegedly signed a certification falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to maintain voter eligibility. Authorities say he has consistently voted in federal elections since 2008.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, “This criminal illegal alien committed a felony by voting in federal elections dating back to 2008. Illegal aliens should NOT be electing American leaders. Congress must pass the SAVE America Act immediately to secure our elections.”
The Department of Homeland Security emphasized that the arrest is part of its ongoing effort to protect the integrity of U.S. elections. Sacko remains in federal custody as legal proceedings continue in Pennsylvania.
