Several of the cases involve individuals who were previously convicted of serious crimes, particularly involving fraud and the sexual abuse of minors. These include Leidys Delmas Garcia, a Cuban national convicted in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent physical therapy claims, and Talman Harris of Jamaica, who was convicted in a sweeping stock manipulation and wire fraud operation that caused tens of millions in investor losses.
Others, such as Neeraj Sharma of India and Federico Michel Fermin of the Dominican Republic, were convicted of visa fraud and illegal prescription drug distribution, respectively, and are now accused of concealing those offenses while applying for citizenship.
Multiple cases center on sexual offenses involving minors, which the government says were not disclosed during the naturalization process. Jean Claude Alfred, Tahir Lekaj, Armando Mendoza, Fernando Cristancho, Ronnie Price, and Jheromell Obejera Arcilla were all convicted or pleaded guilty to crimes involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of children. Federal prosecutors allege each of them falsely denied or failed to disclose this conduct in sworn immigration filings, preventing authorities from properly assessing their eligibility for citizenship.
Other individuals are accused, but not necessarily convicted, of fraud or deception tied to either criminal conduct or the immigration process itself. Andrea Marroquin of Colombia is accused of engaging in fraud and money laundering tied to drug proceeds, while Maria Lourdes Montoya of Mexico allegedly obtained lawful status by misrepresenting her marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres, a Cuban national, is accused of participating in a fraudulent scheme involving stolen casino funds and laundering the proceeds, which prosecutors say she failed to disclose.
A number of cases focus primarily on immigration-related fraud, rather than underlying criminal convictions. Abdikadir Ali Kadiye of Somalia allegedly used multiple identities to gain admission to the United States, while Victor San Shing Kwok of China is accused of concealing a prior removal order and immigration violations. Louise Hunkporti of Congo is similarly accused of adopting a false identity to secure immigration benefits.
In each case, the U.S. government argues that the individual either illegally procured naturalization or obtained citizenship through willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts, often during the period when they were required to demonstrate “good moral character.”
Through civil denaturalization complaints filed in federal court, officials are seeking to revoke their citizenship, potentially returning them to noncitizen status and exposing them to further immigration consequences, including deportation.
What Does the Immigration and Nationality Act Say About Citizenship?
At the center of immigration enforcement is the Immigration and Nationality Act, known as the INA. It is the major piece of legislation which set up how the U.S. immigration system largely operates, seeing few changes since the mid-20th century.
Under the act, foreign nationals can become U.S. citizens through a process known as naturalization, but only if they meet strict legal requirements. Among the most important is that applicants must demonstrate “good moral character” during a specified period, usually the five years before applying, and must show they have not committed certain crimes or provided false information to immigration officials.
The law also says that citizenship can be revoked in specific circumstances, including if the government finds it was illegally obtained or because details including criminal convictions were not disclosed during the application process. Courts have made it clear over time that these cases have to be proven by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence.
What is Denaturalization?
Denaturalization is the process of revoking a foreign national’s American citizenship, which they gained either through longtime legal residency or relation to a U.S. citizen.
Under the Trump administration, the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been clear that they want to increase the number of denaturalizations.
Despite current political rhetoric, denaturalization remains extremely rare.
From 1990 to 2017, an average of about 11 cases per year were initiated, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. During the first Trump administration, that number rose to roughly 25 cases annually, still a small fraction of the more than 24 million naturalized U.S. citizens.
“American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly. If you come here break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a Monday press release.
“DHS will not stand idly by while Americans are harmed by criminals including sex offenders, perpetrators of fraud, and drug traffickers who have exploited our generosity and gamed our immigration system. We will continue to use every lawful avenue to denaturalize and remove aliens.”
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Source: 17 People Could See U.S. Citizenship Revoked Under Trump Denaturalization Push: Full List – Newsweek
