By Kate PlummerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe mayor of a small town in Kansas risks being deported over allegations that he voted in American elections illegally.
Jose Ceballos—who has served as the mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, since 2021 and is a registered Republican, according to records—has been accused by the Kansas attorney general of voting in elections despite not being a U.S. citizen. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said, "If convicted, he will be placed in removal proceedings."
Newsweek contacted the Coldwater mayor's office for comment by email outside normal business hours.
Why It Matters
The accusations against Ceballos places the Republican at the intersection of two key GOP issues. President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have framed voter fraud as a widespread issue in U.S. elections, despite evidence to the contrary. Trump, without evidence, has contested the results of the 2020 presidential election and promised to root out instances of fraud.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has made immigration enforcement a central pillar of his presidency, vowing to crack down on border security, carry out mass deportations and end federal benefits for people entering the country illegally.
...What To Know
According to DHS, Ceballos is from Mexico. He received a green card in 1990 and applied for U.S. citizenship in February 2025. The agency said he claimed to be a U.S. citizen on other forms.
Ceballos told The Wichita Eagle that he had probably voted for Trump three times and "always voted for all the Republicans." He said he had voted in every election since 1991, and that he thought his permanent residency made him a citizen.
According to The Washington Post, citing the Comanche County Clerk's Office, Ceballos has been a registered Republican since 2020. Newsweek contacted the Comanche County Clerk's Office for comment by email outside normal business hours.
As outlined in court documents, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach charged Ceballos with three counts of voting without being qualified and three counts of election perjury for elections in November 2022, November 2023 and August 2024.
What People Are Saying
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said in a statement on November 5: "In Kansas, it is against the law to vote if you are not a U.S. citizen. We allege that Mr. Ceballos did it multiple times."
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement on November 13: "This alien committed a felony by voting in American elections. If convicted, he will be placed in removal proceedings. President Trump and Secretary Noem gave states access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to ensure only Americans vote in American elections.
"The SAVE program is a critical tool for state and local governments to safeguard the integrity of elections across the country. Our elections belong to American citizens, not foreign citizens."
Coldwater City Council President Britt Lenertz told KAKE: "At this time, our focus remains on ensuring that city operations continue to run smoothly and that the needs of our community are met. While the recent allegations involving the mayor are understandably concerning, we will allow the proper legal process to take its course before making any further comments. It's important that we respect both due process and the integrity of our local government."
What Happens Next
Ceballos' next court date is scheduled for December 3. If convicted, he could face more than five years in prison and $200,000 in fines.
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