Justice Dept Targets 40 Foreign-Born Americans for Citizenship Revocation
The U.S. Justice Department files lawsuits to revoke citizenship of 40 individuals accused of fraud and criminal activity.
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The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a sweeping legal action to revoke the citizenship of 40 naturalized Americans, accusing them of obtaining their status through fraud, concealment of facts, or criminal conduct. The cases, part of a broader crackdown on immigration fraud, involve individuals from China, Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, Venezuela, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Mexico.
Targeted Individuals Face Serious Charges
The Justice Department alleges that the defendants committed offenses ranging from espionage to sexual crimes against minors. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the effort the largest denaturalization campaign in modern history, emphasizing that these individuals ‘concealed critical facts’ and ‘represent serious criminal offenders.’
One of the targets is 60-year-old Cuban-born Javier Marrero-Pando, who was convicted of aggravated sodomy in 2022 after pleading guilty to forcing a man with special needs to perform sexual acts against his will. The Justice Department alleges that Marrero-Pando lied under oath in 2020, falsely claiming he had never committed a crime, which led to his naturalization approval. He received a life sentence, with all but 15 years suspended, and resides in Georgia.
Legal Grounds for Denaturalization
The federal government can seek to revoke naturalized citizenship if it was obtained through fraud, concealment of material facts, or willful misrepresentation. Citizens may also lose their status if they join or affiliate with certain organizations, such as the Communist Party, terrorist groups, or other subversive groups within five years of becoming a citizen. Additionally, those discharged from the military under dishonorable conditions after obtaining citizenship through military service may also face denaturalization.
Administration’s Commitment to Integrity
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate emphasized that ‘every single one of these individuals lied their way into U.S. citizenship’ and that the administration is committed to restoring trust and integrity in the naturalization process. Under previous administrations, the average number of denaturalization cases was around 15 per year, according to a Justice Department official.
In April, the Trump administration had previously identified 384 foreign-born Americans for potential denaturalization, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the current effort.
Source: Daily Wire
