Los Angeles, California: A 30-year-old Indian-origin woman and legal permanent resident of the United States has been taken into federal custody in Los Angeles over allegations that she unlawfully registered to vote, cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election and provided false information on her U.S. citizenship application.
Amandeep Kaur, who lives in Rancho Palos Verdes with her husband, two young children and in-laws, surrendered to federal authorities early Monday morning. According to the account, plainclothes federal agents served her with an arrest warrant outside a courthouse, conducted a brief search and took her into custody. She was expected to appear before a judge later that day.
Federal court documents allege that Kaur registered to vote in 2022 and participated in the 2024 election despite not being a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors further allege that she failed to disclose the voting history accurately in her naturalization application.
Kaur, who speaks Punjabi and has limited English proficiency, is among more than 220 individuals across 28 states who have reportedly faced charges related to alleged voting violations during President Donald Trump’s second term. The cases are part of a broader federal effort to investigate and prosecute suspected election-related offenses.
The crackdown has raised concerns among immigrant communities, particularly among legal permanent residents who may have limited familiarity with the U.S. voting system. Some defendants and their families have described confusion over voter registration procedures, language barriers and receiving election-related information or ballots through the mail. Others have denied the allegations and said they were surprised when federal authorities contacted them.
Kaur’s husband, Kulwinder Ghotra, said his wife began receiving voter-related information after taking a driving test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He said she believed she was eligible to vote and cast a ballot in 2024. The family has suggested that confusion surrounding the registration process may have contributed to the situation.
Election officials in California and other states have criticized aspects of the federal enforcement campaign, raising concerns that the process used to identify suspected violations may rely on incomplete or inaccurate records. Officials have also warned that mistakes could result in eligible citizens being wrongly investigated.
The cases have drawn attention to the serious legal consequences that can arise when non-citizens register or vote in federal elections, as well as the importance of clear voter-registration procedures and accurate information for immigrants navigating the naturalization process.
Kaur’s allegations remain subject to the judicial process. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.