The Trump administration has kicked off a major crackdown on naturalised citizens accused of obtaining U.S. citizenship through fraud, deception, or by concealing serious criminal conduct, People Gazette reports.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, denaturalisation proceedings have been filed against 17 individuals from countries including Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, India, Somalia, China, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and Trinidad and Tobago.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the move underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. naturalisation system.
“Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug dealers, sexual predators, and fraudsters. Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege,” Blanche said, adding that the Justice Department maintains a “zero-tolerance policy” toward abuse of the process.
The list includes individuals convicted of healthcare fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, immigration fraud, child sexual abuse, statutory rape and illegal drug distribution.
Among those named is Colombian-born Andrea Marroquin, who allegedly concealed criminal activities linked to wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering while becoming a U.S. citizen in 2009. Another case involves Haitian-born Jean Claude Alfred, accused of repeatedly sexually abusing his minor daughter during the period he was applying for citizenship.
The Justice Department also identified Indian national Neeraj Sharma, who was convicted for filing fraudulent H-1B visa petitions, and Jamaican-born Talman Harris, who was found guilty in a multimillion-dollar securities fraud scheme that caused heavy investor losses.
Several others are accused of lying on immigration and citizenship applications, hiding previous identities, concealing criminal conduct or securing immigration benefits through fraudulent marriages.
The administration argues that citizenship obtained through deception can and should be revoked, particularly when applicants conceal conduct that would have disqualified them from becoming Americans.
The denaturalisation cases will proceed through federal courts, where the government must prove that citizenship was unlawfully obtained or granted based on material misrepresentations.
The announcement marks one of the most significant citizenship-revocation efforts undertaken by the Trump administration and signals a renewed focus on immigration enforcement and accountability within the naturalisation system.
NEWS NOW:
