The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement on Friday, August 14, regarding the findings of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The investigation revealed that an undocumented immigrant and criminal had falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen for over 20 years, obtaining a driver’s license and even voting in multiple elections before being sentenced.
According to the statement, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, originally from Colombia, admitted on August 12 to:
– Making false statements when applying for a U.S. passport;
– Committing serious identity theft;
– Falsely applying for a social security number;
– Claiming to be a U.S. citizen.
He was eventually sentenced to three years in federal prison.
The exact date and location of Jaramillo-Grajales’ initial illegal entry into the United States remain unclear.
The Central Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Jaramillo-Grajales had stolen the identity of a U.S. citizen, including their name, date of birth, and social security number, to apply for and receive a passport. He then used the same information to falsely claim U.S. citizenship, obtain a Florida driver’s license, register to vote, and participate in several elections, including the 2020 presidential election.
Subsequently, Jaramillo-Grajales married a woman under a fake name.
The woman had arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa in September 2003 and claimed to have married a U.S. citizen, using the marriage as grounds for her citizenship application. After being naturalized in August 2017, the couple divorced in January 2020. Jaramillo-Grajales then returned to Colombia under a false name.
Later, his ex-wife traveled to Colombia and applied for him a fiance visa using Jaramillo-Grajales’ real name. After the visa was approved, he returned to the U.S. under his true identity in June 2025, remarried his ex-wife, and applied for permanent residency based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Official documents have not yet explained how Jaramillo-Grajales raised suspicion from the U.S. government leading to a joint investigation by multiple federal agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier filed the charges in this case.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the undocumented immigrant from Colombia had been sentenced to federal prison for identity theft and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, emphasizing that he had been removed from the community and would be deported upon release.
He reiterated that DHS is committed to ensuring the fairness of elections as part of national security, as only U.S. citizens have the right to choose their leaders.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe emphasized that federal immigration laws are designed to uphold national border security and government integrity, warning that those attempting to evade, exploit, or violate these laws will face strict punishment.
Tim Hemker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Jacksonville, stressed that identity theft, immigration fraud, and fraudulent activities that undermine the integrity of the U.S. government systems will be thoroughly investigated and punished according to the law. HSI will continue to protect victims, maintain public institution safety, and ensure that those abusing the immigration and identity verification systems face legal consequences.