The Justice Department said Friday it filed denaturalization actions against 12 naturalized U.S. citizens in federal courts across the country, accusing them of concealing serious crimes and other disqualifying conduct during the immigration process.
The cases involve allegations of material support for terrorism, war crimes, sexual abuse of a minor, espionage, fraud and immigration deception, according to the department. Officials said the complaints were filed by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation with help from U.S. attorney’s offices in multiple districts.
In a statement, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said people accused of fraud, sexual abuse or support for terrorism “should never have been naturalized,” while Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the department is moving at “record speeds” to restore integrity to the naturalization process.
The complaint names people from Iraq, Colombia, Morocco, Somalia, The Gambia, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Kenya, India, China and Nigeria, as well as Victor Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. diplomat convicted of acting as an unregistered agent for Cuba.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, naturalized citizenship may be revoked if it was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. The Justice Department said the allegations in the complaints have not been proven, and no court has determined liability.
For example, one complaint accuses a former Colombian priest, Oscar Alberto Pelaez, of failing to disclose convictions for sexual abuse of a child, while another says Khalid Ouazzani concealed ties to al-Qaida before and after naturalizing.
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.
