Summary:

Denise Nataly Migliore, a 51-year-old Australian national and lawful permanent resident living in Franklinton, Louisiana, has been indicted and arrested on federal charges for allegedly voting illegally in the 2022 and 2024 US federal elections. The four-count indictment, returned on 11 June 2026 in the Eastern District of Louisiana, accuses her of making false claims of US citizenship to register to vote and then casting ballots in both elections. She was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations on 1 July 2026 following an investigation that used the federal SAVE database. Louisiana officials have reported identifying dozens of non-citizens who voted in past elections through similar checks. In statements to local media, Migliore said she believed she was eligible to vote because of her long-term residency and pending citizenship application. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Detailed Report

1. Indictment and Arrest

Denise Nataly Migliore, an Australian national residing in Franklinton, Louisiana, was indicted on 11 June 2026 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents at the federal courthouse in New Orleans on 1 July 2026. The case was investigated jointly by HSI and the FBI in partnership with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Election Integrity Division.

2. Federal Charges

According to the indictment, on or about 6 October 2022 and 22 October 2024, Migliore, then a lawful permanent resident, knowingly made false claims of US citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. She then allegedly cast ballots on 8 November 2022 and 5 November 2024 after falsely certifying that she was a US citizen and eligible to vote. She faces two counts under 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f) for false claims to citizenship and two counts under 52 U.S.C. § 20511(2)(B) for illegal voting in a federal election.

3. Investigation and Use of The SAVE Database

The investigation was triggered after Louisiana began using the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to verify the citizenship status of registered voters. State officials reported that the checks identified approximately 403 potential non-citizens on the rolls, with 83 individuals found to have cast at least one ballot in Louisiana elections since the 1980s. Migliore’s case is the first criminal prosecution to emerge from this process.

4. Official Statements from US Authorities

US Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana stated that the indictment is merely a charge and that guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He praised the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the arrest sends a clear message that non-citizens who vote in American elections will face criminal charges and potential deportation.

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry emphasised that every illegal vote diminishes the value of lawful citizens’ votes and erodes public trust, and that the state will continue using all available tools to protect election integrity.

5. Migliore’s Position

In a subsequent interview with local media, Migliore stated that she did not believe she was breaking the law. She said she had lived in the United States for almost three decades, had a pending citizenship application, and considered herself a citizen. She reported clicking “yes” to the citizenship question when registering online and said she thought state officials would have stopped her if voting was not permitted.

6. Potential Penalties

If convicted on all counts, Migliore faces a maximum of five years in federal prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

Conclusion

Denise Nataly Migliore’s indictment and arrest highlight Louisiana’s use of federal data tools to enforce citizenship requirements for voting. The case remains at an early stage, with Migliore presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Further proceedings, including possible immigration consequences, are expected. No response has been issued by the Australian government as of early July 2026.