In the current socio-political climate, ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has become a highly controversial entity, particularly for those critical of the Trump Administration. While ICE maintains its supporters, finding one within the Kpop fandom is unexpected. Recently, Texas-born celebrity Lara Rajagopalan, a member of the idol group KATSEYE, has become the subject of online attention, not for her musical talents, but due to a disturbing incident.
Reportedly, a Kpop fan reported Lara to ICE, falsely accusing her of being an “illegal alien” who lacked the required visa or legal status to remain in the US. Despite her Indian ethnicity, Lara is a U.S. citizen, born in Dallas and raised in Los Angeles. This report is factually incorrect and likely stems from malicious intent.
The individual who made the report is likely a troll, a hater, or someone prejudiced against Lara due to her skin color or ethnicity as a Kpop star. This incident is not isolated; Reddit reports https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/1ldzvj5/a_kpop_fan_has_gone_viral_for_reporting_lara_from/ indicate that some have made derogatory comments about her appearance, including using the name “Jafar.” One user emphasizes that KATSEYE’s core mission is to be multicultural and inclusive, making the fan’s behavior even more perplexing.
Blocking everyone who justifies racism towards Lara over fanwars it’s ALWAYS her who has to deal with such things because she’s Indian. Do people think deportation jokes are funny? This happened to Hanni and now to Lara they’re getting called “illegal alliens” over kpop fanwars pic.twitter.com/pLXjPaZaEB
— 🧸 (@jentlelogy) June 16, 2025
“Nothing Kpop fans do surprises me anymore,” another Redditor commented, highlighting the widespread racism within the community. Another comment succinctly states, “Just regular racism, you know, the foundation of America.” This statement reflects the deeply rooted history of racism in the United States.
Recent events, particularly under the former administration, have exacerbated such sentiments, leading to increased prejudice against those perceived as “illegal immigrants.” The animosity directed towards Indian-American Lara exemplifies this trend, though the ICE report itself was unwarranted. Fortunately, many online users have voiced their support for Lara, condemning the incident.
This type of behavior is unlikely to cease until there is a shift away from the current political climate, and a return to a sense of balance. Although there may be criticisms of protests and riots in LA and other places, the fact that protests are taking place suggests people want change and are tired of ICE’s treatment of people.
Regardless of Lara’s aspirations upon joining KATSEYE, she was likely aware of the potential toxicity and racism within the Kpop community. While she is not at fault for the ICE report or the hateful comments about her appearance, hopefully, she was mentally prepared for such challenges, especially in the present times.
