Recent Denaturalization Efforts by the Trump Administration
Federal officials have noted a total of 305 instances of denaturalization occurring from 1990 to 2017, averaging about 11 cases each year. However, it seems that the second Trump administration is looking to significantly increase those numbers.
On Monday, the Trump Justice Department announced it has initiated denaturalization lawsuits in several federal courts against 17 individuals, who are alleged to have committed offenses ranging from child sexual abuse to fraud.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that “American citizenship is a privilege that must be earned honestly.” The individuals facing potential loss of their U.S. citizenship hail from various countries, including China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Haiti, India, Jamaica, and Somalia.
Blanche emphasized the consequences for those who violate the law: “Criminal aliens, such as drug traffickers, sex offenders, and fraudsters, lie about their past crimes. Obtaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege, and under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of this process.”
One of the latest individuals targeted in this denaturalization drive is Neeraj Sharma, a 50-year-old man originally from India. He operated a staffing agency in New Jersey and reportedly filed 11 fraudulent H-1B visa applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Having become a U.S. citizen in late 2017, Sharma was later convicted of fraud and visa abuse. The Justice Department aims to revoke his citizenship on the basis that he “obtained naturalization by failing to disclose illegal conduct, providing false testimony, and intentionally misrepresenting material facts.”
It’s important to note that denaturalization can happen under various circumstances. According to Section 1451(a) of Title 8, U.S. Code, if a court finds that a naturalization certificate was obtained illegally, the citizenship can be revoked. The government must demonstrate that the naturalized individual intentionally misrepresented or concealed significant facts, and that this misrepresentation was crucial for acquiring citizenship.
Other possible reasons for denaturalization include membership in organizations that oppose organized government or have ties to totalitarian regimes. For instance, a person could be found guilty of criminal contempt for not testifying before Congress regarding alleged “subversive activities.”
Another case involves Jamaican Talman Harris, who, in 2016, was charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, leading to a prison sentence the following year for his participation in a penny stock fraud scheme that harmed investors to the tune of $39 million. The Justice Department claims Harris, while applying for naturalization, failed to showcase good moral character and provided false testimony about his past crimes.
Armando Medoza, a 39-year-old from Mexico, is also facing possible denaturalization. He misrepresented his criminal history during his naturalization application and was later found guilty of possessing sexual images of children.
Among other individuals on the Justice Department’s radar are Jean-Claude Alfred from Haiti, who was convicted of sexually abusing a minor, and Tahir Rekay from Yugoslavia, who also had a history of similar offenses prior to his naturalization application.
Abdikadir Ali Kadieh, a Somali native, admitted to using two different identities to enter the country and is now under scrutiny from the Department of Justice.
Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security, stated, “American citizenship is a privilege that must be earned honestly. If you come here and break the law and lie in the immigration process, that privilege will be taken away.”
There are indications that the Trump administration plans to pursue additional denaturalization cases in the upcoming months. Reports suggest that field offices of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have been directed to submit a monthly list of problematic cases for further review.
