WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested an Australian national living in Louisiana on charges of voter fraud after she allegedly falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to register and vote in federal elections.
Denise Nataly Migliore, 51, a lawful permanent resident (LPR) originally from Sydney, Australia, and a resident of Franklinton, Louisiana, faces a four-count federal indictment. She is charged with making false statements to register to vote and illegal voting in an election.
LPRs, also known as green card holders, are not eligible to vote in U.S. federal elections. This is a fundamental rule under U.S. law, regardless of how long they have lived in the country or paid taxes.
According to the indictment, on or about October 6, 2022, and October 22, 2024, Migliore, then a legal permanent resident, knowingly made false claims of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. She allegedly cast ballots on November 8, 2022, and November 5, 2024, by falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote, when in fact she was not.
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana returned the indictment on June 11, 2026. HSI New Orleans agents arrested Migliore on July 1, 2026, at the federal courthouse in New Orleans.
“This alien from Australia now faces federal charges for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and illegally casting ballots in two elections,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Her arrest and charges are the result of the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement and our federal partners. Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Only Americans should be electing American leaders.” DHS statement
HSI and the FBI investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Veters of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting it. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle’s office announced the charges.
This case reveals ongoing efforts by federal and state authorities, including Louisiana’s Election Integrity Division and use of the federal SAVE database, to identify and prosecute noncitizen voting.
Migliore could face up to five years in prison and fines on the charges. She has reportedly stated she did not realize the severity of the issue when registering online.
The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice continue to emphasize that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections.
