Amandeep Kaur and Kamlesh Shah accused of allegedly registering and voting in California elections despite not being US citizens
WASHINGTON: Two Indian nationals are among 28 foreign nationals charged with alleged election related offences in California, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday.
The cases involve allegations of fraudulent voter registration, unlawful voting and, in some cases, making false statements in applications for US citizenship. All 28 defendants are reported to be lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders.
Who Are the Two Indian Nationals?
According to the DOJ, the two Indian nationals are:
- Amandeep Kaur, 30: A resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, who is seeking US citizenship. Authorities allege that she registered to vote in December 2022 and voted in the November 2024 US election.
- Kamlesh Navnitlal Shah, 67: A resident of Sacramento, California. Authorities allege that he registered to vote and cast a ballot on the same day during the November 2024 general election.
It was not immediately clear whether either of the two Indian nationals was among the 11 defendants arrested during early morning operations across California.
11 Arrested Under Operation Protect the Vote
- The DOJ said 11 of the 28 defendants were arrested as part of Operation Protect the Vote, a coordinated initiative involving all four US Attorney’s Offices in California.
- Federal authorities allege that the defendants falsely claimed US citizenship when registering to vote and that many subsequently cast ballots in US elections.
- The DOJ said the charges include false statements in naturalisation applications and fraudulent voter registration. Certain felony offences carry a maximum prison sentence of five years, although the potential penalty depends on the specific charge.
Dispute Over Voter Eligibility Checks
- The announcement comes amid a wider dispute between the federal government and California officials over voter registration records and checks on citizenship eligibility.
- Federal authorities said they had provided California officials with a list of more than 20,000 people suspected of being non-citizens registered to vote. The federal government sought to have certain mail-in ballots set aside until citizenship status could be verified.
- California officials have disputed the federal government’s allegations and questioned whether sufficient evidence supports the broader claims. The dispute has also led to legal action.
What Happens Next?
- The charges are allegations and do not establish guilt. The defendants are entitled to due process, and each is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
- The cases are part of a broader federal effort to investigate alleged non-citizen voting ahead of the US midterm elections.
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