Indian national held in US over alleged illegal voting in 2024 presidential election

Washington: An Indian national has been arrested in the United States for allegedly misrepresenting his citizenship status to cast a vote in the 2024 general election in Minnesota, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Friday.

The accused, identified as Chaudhari, faces federal charges of knowingly providing false information while voting and falsely claiming US citizenship to register or participate in an election.

According to the DHS, the charges stem from an incident on November 5, 2024, when Chaudhari allegedly signed a voter signature certificate required under Minnesota election law.

By signing the document, he affirmed that he was an American citizen, a requirement for participating in US federal elections.

However, federal prosecutors allege that Chaudhari was not a US citizen at the time and knowingly submitted the false declaration to cast his ballot.

Indian national faces up to 10 years in prison

The indictment includes two counts related to the alleged election violations.

“If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count,” the DHS said.

The charges carry a combined statutory maximum of 10 years in prison if the sentences are imposed consecutively, although any actual sentence would be determined by the court.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of DHS, said it would continue pursuing cases involving alleged violations of federal election laws.

“Voting is reserved for US citizens, and falsely claiming citizenship to cast a ballot is a serious crime,” said Special Agent Travis Pickard of Homeland Security Investigations.

“HSI has the experience and authority to investigate these cases, and we take that responsibility seriously. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of our election systems,” Pickard said.

DHS warns of criminal charges and deportation

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a warning to foreign nationals who participate unlawfully in American elections, saying they could face arrest, prosecution and deportation.

“Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation,” Mullin said.

Under US federal law, non-citizens are generally prohibited from voting in federal elections, and falsely claiming American citizenship to register or cast a ballot can result in criminal prosecution.

The allegations against Chaudhari have not yet been proven in court. His arrest and indictment do not constitute a finding of guilt.

The DHS statement did not provide further details about Chaudhari's immigration status or whether he had entered a plea.