The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has filed denaturalization actions against 17 naturalized U.S. citizens in federal courts across the country, alleging they illegally obtained citizenship by concealing criminal conduct, providing false information, or committing crimes during the naturalization process.
Under federal law, naturalized citizenship may be revoked if it was obtained through concealment of material facts, willful misrepresentation, or if the applicant was otherwise ineligible for naturalization.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the actions reflect what the administration describes as a zero-tolerance approach toward fraud in the naturalization process.
The cases involve individuals from countries including Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, India, Somalia, Jamaica, the Philippines, China, the former Yugoslavia, Congo, and the Dominican Republic. The allegations range from healthcare fraud and securities fraud to child sexual abuse, visa fraud, drug trafficking conspiracies, identity fraud, and money laundering.
Among the most serious allegations is the case against Jean Claude Alfred, who prosecutors say repeatedly sexually abused his minor daughter beginning before he applied for citizenship and concealed that conduct during his naturalization proceedings. He was later convicted by a Florida jury of offenses involving sexual abuse of a child.
The government also seeks to revoke the citizenship of Fernando Cristancho, a former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement after admitting to sexually abusing a minor parishioner and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.
Several cases involve financial crimes. Prosecutors allege that Leidys Delmas Garcia participated in a scheme that fraudulently billed insurers more than $36 million through physical therapy clinics in Florida. Authorities also accuse Talman Harris of participating in a stock manipulation scheme that generated more than $54 million in investments and resulted in approximately $39 million in investor losses.
Other cases center on immigration-related deception. Federal officials allege that some defendants concealed prior identities, fraudulent marriages, criminal conduct, or previous immigration denials when applying for permanent residence or citizenship.
The Justice Department said the cases were filed in multiple federal jurisdictions with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and several U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the department will continue pursuing individuals who unlawfully obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud or concealment.
Denaturalization is a civil legal process that, if successful, revokes a person’s U.S. citizenship and may expose them to potential immigration removal proceedings.
Federal officials emphasized that the allegations contained in the complaints remain unproven. The cases will proceed through the courts, where the government must establish its claims before citizenship can be revoked.
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