The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the United States announced on July 20 that they have filed civil denaturalization lawsuits in various federal district courts over the past 30 days, seeking to revoke the citizenship of 10 naturalized citizens. These individuals are suspected of concealing criminal records or making false statements during the naturalization process, involving serious crimes such as child sexual abuse, healthcare fraud, wire fraud, immigration fraud, and drug trafficking.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, if a naturalized citizen’s citizenship was obtained through illegal means or by intentionally concealing material facts or making false statements during the application process, the U.S. government can file a lawsuit in federal court to revoke their citizenship and naturalization certificate.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that these 10 individuals acquired U.S. citizenship through deliberate concealment of criminal records and false statements, which do not meet the “good moral character” standard required by the Immigration and Nationality Act. He said, “These 10 criminal foreign nationals, including child sex offenders, a perpetrator involved in nearly $900,000 healthcare fraud, and a cocaine trafficker, all obtained U.S. citizenship through deception.”
The individuals facing denaturalization lawsuits come from countries including Cuba, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, and Poland. The cases involve:
– Healthcare fraud: A naturalized citizen from Cuba is suspected of operating a fraudulent medical clinic, submitting over $886,000 in false claims to Medicare, and concealing these criminal activities during the naturalization process.
– Child sexual abuse crimes: Several defendants are implicated in child sexual abuse cases, including a former priest from Mexico accused of sexually abusing minors during his tenure and a Peruvian man convicted of multiple counts of sexually assaulting minors.
– Drug crimes: A man from Mexico was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to possess and distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine, with the government alleging that he concealed these crimes during his naturalization application.
– Immigration fraud and identity fraud: Some individuals are accused of using false identities, different names, or false information to obtain immigration benefits and subsequently completing the naturalization process with incorrect information.
– Concealment of criminal records: Some defendants denied past arrests, criminal activities, or provided false statements during their naturalization application or interviews, leading the government to argue that they are ineligible for naturalization.
The government emphasizes that the denaturalization process aims to uphold the integrity of the U.S. immigration system, ensuring that individuals who obtain citizenship through fraud or concealing criminal records face legal consequences. If the court decides to revoke their naturalized citizenship, these individuals will lose their U.S. citizenship and may face deportation proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that these cases were investigated in collaboration with the Department of Justice. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that anyone involved in fraud during the naturalization process forfeits their eligibility to retain U.S. citizenship.
Mullin said, “These criminal foreign nationals, including drug traffickers, pedophiles, and fraudsters, have lost the right to hold U.S. citizenship.” These individuals “have abused the U.S. immigration system, harming legitimate American citizens. The Department of Homeland Security will utilize all available tools to revoke the citizenship of these fraudsters and remove them from the country.”