California: Two Indian nationals, Amandeep Kaur, 30, and Kamlesh Shah, 67, are among 28 lawful permanent residents charged with alleged election-related offences in California, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported, citing a statement from the US Department of Justice. The defendants are accused of illegally registering as voters and casting ballots in the November 2024 US elections despite not being American citizens.
The charges were announced as part of a broader federal effort to investigate alleged election fraud. However, the allegations against the 28 individuals have yet to be established in court, and the charges do not amount to convictions.
Who are the two Indian nationals charged?
According to the US Department of Justice, Amandeep Kaur lives in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and is seeking US citizenship. She allegedly registered to vote in December 2022 and subsequently cast a ballot in the November 2024 election.
Kamlesh Shah, a 67-year-old resident of Sacramento, is accused of registering as a voter and casting his ballot on the same day during the November 2024 general election.
The department has alleged that both individuals participated in an election despite not being US citizens. Further details about the evidence supporting the individual charges were not immediately available in the report.
It was also unclear whether Kaur or Shah was among the 11 people arrested during early-morning raids conducted across California under an initiative called “Operation Protect the Vote”.
The investigation is part of a wider federal effort to identify and prosecute alleged violations of US election laws. The cases involve questions surrounding voter eligibility, registration procedures and statements made by some defendants during the naturalisation process.
Why green card holders cannot vote in US elections
All 28 defendants are lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, according to the Justice Department.
A green card allows a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States, subject to applicable immigration laws. However, lawful permanent residency does not confer US citizenship, and green card holders are generally prohibited from voting in federal elections.
US citizens who meet the applicable eligibility requirements can register and vote in federal elections. Non-citizens who register or cast ballots in such elections may face criminal prosecution, depending on the circumstances and the specific laws allegedly violated.
The department said the cases involved alleged violations of election-related and immigration laws. Some defendants are accused of making false statements in naturalisation applications, while others face allegations connected to fraudulent voter registration.
The distinction is significant because an application for US citizenship requires applicants to provide information about their background and eligibility. Alleged false statements in such applications can lead to separate criminal charges, in addition to potential consequences for an individual’s immigration or naturalisation status.
Charges could carry prison sentences
The charges cited in the report include making false statements in naturalisation applications and, in some cases, fraudulent voter registration.
According to the Justice Department, the relevant felony offences carry a maximum possible sentence of five years in federal prison. The actual penalties, if any, would depend on the charges proved, the circumstances of each case and the court’s decision.
A maximum statutory sentence does not mean every defendant will receive that punishment. Prosecutors must establish the allegations through the legal process, and defendants are entitled to contest the charges.
The department has not indicated that all 28 individuals face identical allegations. The specific charges and potential consequences may vary from one defendant to another.
The cases also highlight the intersection of election law and immigration law. For individuals seeking naturalisation, an election-related investigation could have implications beyond the immediate criminal proceedings, depending on the facts established and the relevant legal provisions.
US officials link defendants to non-citizen registration list
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said the defendants were identified through information shared with California election officials.
“Each of the 28 defendants charged today appears on the list of more than 20,000 likely noncitizen registrants we provided to California election officials last week,” McCotter told reporters in Los Angeles, according to PTI.
The figure refers to individuals identified as likely non-citizen registrants, not to a finding that all of them committed voter fraud. Inclusion on such a list does not, by itself, establish that a person illegally registered or voted. Individual cases require assessment of the relevant records and evidence.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of voter eligibility and election administration in the United States. Authorities have pursued cases involving alleged unlawful voting, false registration information and other forms of election-related misconduct.
The Justice Department’s statement did not establish that the allegations against the 28 defendants were part of a coordinated effort or that the cases affected the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
Broader federal investigations into alleged election offences
Before the latest announcement, the Justice Department had charged approximately 90 people with various forms of alleged election misconduct during the year, including around 50 accused of voting despite not being US citizens, according to the report.
These figures reflect charges brought by authorities and should not be interpreted as the number of people convicted. Criminal cases can result in convictions, acquittals, dismissals or other legal outcomes.
The department’s latest action was associated with “Operation Protect the Vote”, an initiative aimed at addressing alleged election fraud. Eleven people were reportedly arrested during early-morning raids across California, although it was not immediately clear whether either of the two Indian nationals was among those taken into custody.
The announcement also comes against the backdrop of the scale of the US electoral system. More than 227 million people were registered to vote during the 2024 presidential election, according to the figures cited in the report.
What happens next?
The cases against Kaur, Shah and the other defendants will proceed through the US legal system. The available information does not establish whether either Indian national has been arrested or whether they have entered pleas in court.
The allegations underline the legal distinction between permanent residency and citizenship in the United States, particularly when it comes to participating in federal elections. However, the outcome of each case will depend on the evidence and the judicial process.
For now, the 28 individuals remain accused of election-related offences, and any determination of guilt must be made through the courts.