The former mayor of a conservative Kansas city was taken into custody by immigration authorities Wednesday after acknowledging final 12 months that he had voted in elections regardless of not being a US citizen.
Joe Ceballos, who was born in Mexico and is a authorized everlasting US resident, was detained throughout a gathering at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement workplace in Wichita, Kansas, in accordance with his lawyer, Jess Hoeme. He stated Ceballos now fears he may very well be deported.
The 55-year-old resigned as mayor of Coldwater in December whereas dealing with state prices over voting as a noncitizen. While searching for citizenship in 2025, Ceballos admitted throughout an interview that he had voted, not figuring out that inexperienced card holders don’t qualify, Hoeme stated.
Ceballos was charged with voting illegally however pleaded responsible in April to misdemeanors in a cope with the Kansas lawyer common. His case has drawn consideration from the Trump administration and impressed supporters in his group, a few of whom held indicators studying “We Support Mayor Joe” and “ICE Out” as Ceballos walked into the federal constructing in Wichita.
“Let Joe go!” the group yelled.
ICE protest Wichita Kansas
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KAKE
“Thinking what could happen — it’s just kind of crazy,” Ceballos informed reporters. “Obviously nervous. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know where they’re going to take me and what I can and can’t do inside there.”
An electronic mail searching for remark from the Department of Homeland Security was not instantly returned.
Trump and different Republicans have been warning of the risks of noncitizens voting in elections for the reason that starting of the 2024 presidential election. Research, even by Republican election officers, present the issue is uncommon.
This 12 months, Trump has been pushing Republicans in Congress to go the SAVE Act, which amongst different issues would require documented proof of US citizenship to register and vote.
The administration additionally has considerably upgraded a program inside Homeland Security that checks citizenship. At least 25 states, most of them managed by Republicans, have used that system to test their voter rolls.
Ceballos was delivered to the US from Mexico by household when he was 4 years previous. Hoeme stated attorneys would subsequent attempt to get an immigration decide to launch him on bond.
He stated Ceballos, at age 18, was inspired to register to vote on the spot throughout a faculty subject journey to the Comanche County courthouse. Ceballos has beforehand stated in interviews with reporters that he voted for Republicans.
He was twice elected mayor of Coldwater, inhabitants 700, and in addition served on the town council. Ceballos received a brand new time period in November however resigned after state Attorney General Kris Kobach charged him with voting with out being certified and election perjury.
Kobach’s workplace, nevertheless, reached a cope with Ceballos. He pleaded responsible to disorderly election conduct, which Hoeme described as a misdemeanor much like disturbing the peace.
“He has not been convicted of any kind of voter fraud. It should not have impacted his immigration status,” Hoeme stated. “The Trump administration and ICE have doubled down on nonsense that he is a criminal.”
Ceballos has been a well-liked determine in Coldwater, the place an commercial in The Western Star newspaper inspired individuals to assist him.
“He’s kind of got to live the American dream, to come from absolutely nothing and build up — I don’t know about wealth — but to build up a business and have a job and be a productive part of society,” longtime good friend Ryan Swayze told Wichita station KAKE-TV.