A man who legally resided in the United States for decades has been convicted of a serious federal crime: falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally voting in multiple elections. Jose Ceballos-Armendariz, a lawful permanent resident since 1990, pleaded guilty to three counts of Disorderly Election Conduct after an investigation by Kansas officials.
The case began to unravel with a 1999 voter registration form where Ceballos-Armendariz explicitly affirmed he was a U.S. citizen. This initial false claim was compounded years later when he applied for naturalization in February 2025, and again denied ever having asserted citizenship.
Federal law is clear: knowingly making false claims to U.S. citizenship can trigger deportation proceedings for non-citizens. While the Department of Homeland Security hasn’t announced specific plans for Ceballos-Armendariz, the conviction opens the door for his removal from the country.
Documents reveal a stark contradiction in Ceballos-Armendariz’s statements. He checked “yes” to being a U.S. citizen on his Kansas voter registration, signing to verify the information. Yet, on his naturalization application, he answered “no” when asked if he’d ever claimed citizenship.
This isn’t an isolated incident. The Department of Homeland Security reports that, since April 2025, over 24,000 potential non-citizens have been identified on voter rolls through a program designed to safeguard election integrity. These cases are then referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further scrutiny.
The program, which processes millions of voter verification queries, allows states to confirm citizenship status and prevent unlawful voting. Officials emphasize the importance of this system in protecting the fundamental right to vote for American citizens.
Beyond the voting violations, records show Ceballos-Armendariz has a prior criminal conviction for battery dating back to 1995. This adds another layer to the case and could influence any potential immigration proceedings.
The focus on election integrity has been a priority, with officials highlighting enforcement actions like this as crucial steps in preventing non-citizens from participating in U.S. elections. The core principle, they assert, is that the right to vote belongs exclusively to American citizens.
Federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 611, explicitly prohibits non-citizens, even lawful permanent residents, from voting in federal elections. This conviction serves as a potent reminder of the serious consequences of violating these laws.
