Jose Ceballos, the former mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 [1].

The detention of a former municipal leader highlights the strict legal consequences for non-citizens who participate in U.S. elections, regardless of their local standing or public service.

Ceballos, also referred to as Joe Ceballos [2], pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly election conduct and illegal voting as a non-citizen [3]. The former mayor admitted to voting in elections despite his status as a non-citizen, which constitutes a violation of both immigration and election laws [4].

Following his guilty plea, Ceballos turned himself in to ICE authorities [5]. He is currently held in custody, likely at a federal detention facility within Kansas [6].

The legal proceedings center on the admission that Ceballos cast ballots in violation of federal and state statutes. While he served as mayor in the small town of Coldwater [1], his non-citizen status rendered his participation in the voting process illegal [4].

Authorities have not yet announced a specific date for deportation hearings. Ceballos remains in federal custody as the immigration process moves forward [1].

“Jose Ceballos was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.”

This case underscores the intersection of local political influence and federal immigration law. While a non-citizen may be elected to local office depending on specific municipal charters, the act of voting in government elections remains a deportable offense under federal law. The detention of a former mayor demonstrates that public office does not provide immunity from immigration enforcement when election laws are violated.