The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported a case in San Diego involving an individual who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship. According to a social media post, USCIS identified the person as a convicted sex offender who had provided false information during the naturalization process.
The agency stated, “USCIS uncovered a convicted sex offender who lied to obtain citizenship in San Diego. We are taking action and working with ICE to denaturalize this individual.”
The statement did not include details such as the individual’s name, the specifics of their conviction, or how the discrepancy was discovered. Denaturalization requires evidence that citizenship was granted based on inaccurate or incomplete information, and, if successful, it could lead to deportation proceedings overseen by ICE.
Denaturalization is a legal process that can be initiated when evidence shows that U.S. citizenship was granted based on inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent information. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, denaturalization can occur through two primary avenues: civil proceedings or criminal convictions. In civil revocation of naturalization, the United States Attorney’s Office must file a case in Federal District Court.
The government bears a high burden of proof, requiring “clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence” that leaves no doubt about the fraud or misrepresentation. For criminal revocation of naturalization, the U.S. Attorney’s Office files criminal charges in Federal District Court, and the burden of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the same standard applied in all criminal cases.
The USCIS Policy Manual outlines several grounds for revoking naturalization. One such ground is the illegal procurement of citizenship, which occurs when an individual was not eligible for naturalization in the first place. Eligibility requirements for naturalization include lawful permanent residence, physical presence in the U.S., good moral character, and attachment to the U.S. Constitution.
If any of these requirements were not met, it can form the basis for denaturalization. Another ground is willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts. If an individual deliberately lies or omits critical information during the naturalization process, they may be subject to denaturalization. This includes false statements made during the naturalization interview or on the application itself. The misrepresented or concealed facts must be material, meaning they had the potential to influence the decision to grant citizenship.
Additionally, the USCIS Policy Manual states that a person may be subject to denaturalization if they become a member of or affiliated with a Communist party, other totalitarian party, or a terrorist organization within five years of naturalization.
Such affiliations are considered prima facie evidence that the individual concealed or willfully misrepresented material facts during the naturalization process. The manual clarifies that involvement with such organizations undermines the naturalization requirements of having an attachment to the Constitution and being well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.
If denaturalization is successful, the individual’s U.S. citizenship is revoked as of the original date of naturalization. The person reverts to their prior immigration status, effectively losing all rights and privileges associated with U.S. citizenship. In many cases, this leads to deportation, especially if the individual no longer holds lawful immigration status in the United States.
The legal basis for denaturalization is outlined in 8 U.S.C. § 1451, which allows the government to revoke citizenship if it was “illegally procured” or obtained through “concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.” Civil denaturalization cases have no statute of limitations, meaning the government can pursue these cases regardless of how much time has passed since the individual was naturalized.
The U.S. government has successfully pursued denaturalization in various high-profile cases, including those involving national security threats, war criminals, human rights violators, sex offenders, and fraudsters.
For example, in U.S. v. al Dahab, an individual convicted of terrorism offenses in Egypt was denaturalized for recruiting for al Qaeda and running a communications hub for the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. In U.S. v. Dzeko, a man convicted of executing eight unarmed civilians during the Balkans conflict was denaturalized while serving a prison sentence in Bosnia.
In U.S. v. Omopariola, a man who engaged in sexual contact with a minor family member was stripped of his citizenship. These cases demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing serious crimes and immigration fraud through denaturalization.
“U.S. citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and it can be revoked if obtained through fraud or material misrepresentation. Denaturalization is the legal process by which the U.S. government strips an individual of their naturalized citizenship, often leading to deportation,” said New York-based immigration attorney Keshab Raj Sedie.
He further explained, “A naturalized U.S. citizen may face denaturalization for various reasons, including making false statements during the naturalization process, lying on the N-400 application—such as misrepresenting tax payments, marital history (e.g., undisclosed polygamy), travel history, or physical presence in the U.S.—or concealing past criminal activities, including arrests or convictions that would have affected eligibility for naturalization. Fraudulent acquisition of a green card can also lead to denaturalization.”
According to Sedie, if a lawful permanent resident (LPR) obtained a green card through fraud or material misrepresentation, their U.S. citizenship is also invalid. This follows the legal principle of “fruit of the poisonous tree”—if the foundation (the green card) is fraudulent, anything built upon it (naturalization) is equally invalid.
He provided several examples of fraud that could lead to denaturalization, including marriage fraud, in which an individual enters into a sham marriage to obtain immigration benefits. Concealing a criminal record is another serious offense, as hiding past crimes that would have made the person inadmissible can result in the loss of citizenship. Employment-based fraud, such as submitting fake job experience letters or falsified degrees to secure an employment-based green card, is also a common reason for denaturalization. Additionally, fraudulent family petitions—where individuals falsely claim a relationship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) to gain immigration benefits—can lead to the revocation of citizenship if discovered.
“One of the most serious forms of immigration fraud involves lying to obtain asylum or refugee status,” Sedie added. “Some individuals submit fake documents—such as altered passports, fabricated police reports, or false witness statements—to support an asylum claim. Others falsely claim to be victims of political oppression, religious discrimination, or other forms of persecution. Additionally, concealing travel to their home country after obtaining asylum can undermine their claim of fearing persecution. If a person gains a green card and later U.S. citizenship based on a fraudulent asylum claim, both can be revoked once the fraud is discovered.”
Sedie warned that fraudulent claims—whether for green cards, asylum, or employment-based visas—carry long-term risks. “Even years after obtaining U.S. citizenship, if fraud is uncovered, the government can initiate denaturalization and deportation. As USCIS and ICE continue to investigate past immigration applications, individuals who obtained status through fraud face serious legal consequences,” he emphasized.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
