Citizen Travels From Mexico City to Vote in Dallas
A U.S. citizen living abroad made a 1,000-mile trip to ensure his midterm ballot was cast in person.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Immigration
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Jesus Chairez, a United States citizen currently living in Mexico City, traveled 1,000 miles to Dallas to vote in person during the 2026 midterm elections. He chose to cast his ballot at the Oak Lawn Public Library to avoid uncertainties surrounding mail-in voting.
Why it matters
Chairez participated in the midterms due to his interest in the outcome of highly contested races. His journey highlights the logistical commitment some expatriates make to ensure their votes are counted during major election cycles.
Approximately 2 million U.S. citizens resided in Mexico as of 2025, according to government data. ProPublica reported that more than 500 U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE since January 2025.
The players
Jesus Chairez
He is a United States citizen currently residing in Mexico City who traveled to Texas to participate in the midterm elections.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
This federal agency is responsible for the detention of foreign nationals and, as reported, has held over 500 U.S. citizens since January 2025.
The details
Chairez visited the Oak Lawn Public Library polling location on two consecutive days to finalize his ballot. He has been a participant in the U.S. electoral process since voting in his first election in 1972.
Timeline
1972: Chairez voted in his first election.
January 2025: Start of the period for reported ICE detainments.
2025: Estimated population of U.S. citizens living in Mexico.
Week of October 20, 2026: Chairez traveled to Dallas to vote.
October 2026: The midterm elections occurred.
Political Context
This story exists in contrast to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which allows citizens living abroad to vote remotely. Critics of strictly remote participation often point to potential reliability concerns that lead some voters to reject mail-in options entirely.
Citizens living abroad may face significant costs and travel time when choosing to vote in person rather than utilizing established mail-in procedures. Voters should verify their local election office requirements to confirm if their ballot can be processed remotely to avoid unnecessary travel.
The takeaway
Voters abroad who feel uncertain about mail-in systems often prioritize physical presence to guarantee their vote is recorded. This case emphasizes the lengths to which expatriate citizens go to maintain their active role in domestic politics.
Further reading
For more on voting procedures and residency requirements, visit Dallas Immigration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KERA.
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