Introduction
A Chinese national living in Andover, Massachusetts, now faces federal criminal charges for allegedly registering to vote and casting a ballot in the 2024 U.S. presidential election under another person’s identity. The case, involving voter fraud, also entangled two innocent lawful permanent residents in fraudulent immigration filings and removal proceedings. USCIS announced the arrest of Yupeng Sun, 33, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and Homeland Security Investigations. The case shows how alien voter fraud charges can intersect with serious immigration consequences for multiple parties at once, including those who did nothing wrong.
Background
Lawful permanent residents, commonly known as Green Card holders, are not permitted to vote in U.S. federal elections. Voter registration systems in most states ask applicants to attest to their citizenship status, and submitting a fraudulent registration or ballot is a federal crime under U.S. law. Separately, USCIS adjudicates immigration benefit forms, including requests by LPRs to abandon their permanent resident status. Both processes depend heavily on the integrity of the information submitted by or on behalf of applicants. When that information is falsified, whether through identity theft, forgery, or impersonation, the consequences can extend well beyond the person committing the fraud.
What Is Changing
This case does not involve a new rule or policy change. It is a federal criminal prosecution that USCIS has highlighted as part of its ongoing cooperation with law enforcement on immigration benefit fraud. The announcement documents a specific alleged scheme: Sun allegedly registered to vote online through Massachusetts’s Secretary of the Commonwealth website on October 10, 2024, using the identity of another Chinese national who held lawful permanent resident status. Sun then allegedly appeared at Malden City Hall on October 31, 2024, and cast an early ballot in the 2024 presidential election under that same person’s name.
The alleged scheme did not stop there. Prosecutors contend that in April and May of 2026, Sun submitted anonymous tips to HSI and USCIS falsely reporting that the victim had illegally voted, apparently an attempt to direct federal scrutiny toward the individual whose identity Sun had allegedly stolen. Sun also allegedly submitted fraudulent USCIS forms in April 2024, before the election, purporting to request that the victim and his wife voluntarily abandon their LPR status. When the couple returned from international travel in June 2024, they were stopped at Logan Airport, had their Green Cards confiscated, and were placed into removal proceedings as an apparent result of those forged submissions.
Sun faces one count of fraudulent voter registration and one count of fraudulent voting. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. As a noncitizen defendant, Sun is also subject to deportation upon completing any sentence imposed. The charging documents contain allegations, and Sun is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Who Is Affected
The most immediately affected parties in this case are the two victims, the LPR whose identity was stolen and his wife, who were placed into removal proceedings as an alleged result of fraudulent forms submitted in their names. Their Green Cards were confiscated, and they are dealing with immigration consequences they did not cause. This shows that a third party submitting fraudulent USCIS forms using someone else’s identity can trigger serious, real-world immigration jeopardy for the victim.
The case also matters for the broader LPR community. Lawful permanent residents who travel internationally should be aware that USCIS and CBP may act on information received through tip systems or submitted forms without immediate notice to the affected individual. For employers, immigration attorneys, and HR professionals managing noncitizen employees, this case is a reminder that fraudulent third-party submissions, not just an individual’s own errors, can create immigration emergencies.
Practical Implications
For lawful permanent residents, this case is a reminder to monitor immigration records and stay alert to any unexpected USCIS correspondence. LPRs do not always receive direct notification when a form is filed on their behalf, particularly when that form is submitted anonymously or by a third party claiming to act for them. If an LPR receives an unexpected Notice to Appear, a request for secondary inspection, or a notice that a benefit has been abandoned, contacting qualified immigration counsel right away is critical, since delays in these situations can accelerate removal proceedings.
The case also raises a practical question about identity protection in the immigration context. Unlike financial identity theft, immigration identity theft does not have a well-developed consumer alert system. Victims may not learn that fraudulent forms were submitted in their names until they encounter a border officer or receive a removal notice. LPRs who suspect their information may have been misused should contact USCIS directly and document their efforts to correct the record.
For anyone who believes they have encountered immigration benefit fraud, whether as a victim or a witness, USCIS maintains a tip form for reporting suspected abuse. This case specifically involved anonymous tips submitted through that system, which USCIS and HSI both acted on.
What to Watch For Next
This matter is in its early criminal prosecution phase. A federal district court judge will impose any sentence in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, should a conviction result. The immigration removal proceedings involving the alleged victims are a separate civil matter and would proceed on their own timeline through the immigration court system. Stakeholders following this case should monitor the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for updates on the criminal proceedings. The immigration status of the alleged victims will depend on factors not yet detailed in public filings.
How Immigration Professional Association Can Help
At Immigration Professional Association, our team works directly with lawful permanent residents, Green Card holders, and their families on the full range of immigration status issues, including emergency situations that arise unexpectedly at ports of entry, during secondary inspection, or as a result of erroneous or fraudulent third-party filings. We understand how quickly a situation can escalate from a confiscated document at the border to active removal proceedings, and we know how to move quickly in response.
If you or someone you know is an LPR who has received an unexpected USCIS notice, had travel documents confiscated, or been placed into removal proceedings under circumstances that seem incorrect or fraudulent, Immigration Professional Association is here to help you understand your options and respond effectively. We also assist employers and HR teams in developing protocols that protect their sponsored employees from identity-based immigration vulnerabilities.
Reach out to Immigration Professional Association today to speak with our team about your specific situation, especially if you believe a fraudulent filing may be affecting your immigration record.
