PHILADELPHIA, United States (CMC) – The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says it has arrested two Cubans for alleged unlawful voting as early voting for the midterm general elections has begun ahead of the November 3 event.

ICE said that agents from its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Osmal Sanchez Loy for “unlawful voting” on October 23.

It said Loy was arrested following an ICE Homeland Security Investigations Allentown investigation with HSI Special Agent in Charge, Nathan Abel, saying “protecting our electoral integrity remains a top priority.

“We will continue working with our partners to hold violators accountable,” he added.

ICE said the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has accepted the case for prosecution and that Loy was convicted of a “dangerous drugs charge” in 1987 and receiving stolen property in 1991.

“He never adjusted his immigration status to become a lawful permanent resident and has a final order of removal from April 2009,” it said.

ICE said also that Cuban Jaimie Sosa-Sardina voted “illegally” in the 2024 election” and that he was among “dozens of illegal aliens arrested in nationwide voter fraud crackdown”.

ICE said the arrests are “in connection with alleged voter fraud and election-related offences across the United States, including numerous cases of aliens admitting to unlawfully registering to vote or casting ballots in American election”.

Acting ICE Director David J Venturella said “these arrests, carried out in coordination with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, are the result of careful, methodical investigations.

“American elections must be conducted in accordance with the law, and allegations of illegal voting deserve our undivided attention. When the facts support criminal charges, we pursue them. Every eligible voter deserves an election process that follows the law.”

ICE said that the latest arrests are “just some” of its ongoing investigations and arrests.

Besides Cubans, ICE said among immigrants arrested on Thursday are nationals from Honduras, Somalia, Germany, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cambodia, Guatemala and Mexico.