US Justice Department files denaturalisation cases against 12 citizens

The administration of Donald Trump has announced plans to revoke the citizenship of 12 foreign-born Americans accused of crimes that officials say qualify them for denaturalisation.

In a statement released on May 8, the United States Department of Justice said it had filed denaturalisation cases against the individuals in courts across the country, marking the latest expansion of the federal government’s efforts targeting naturalised citizens accused of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship, ABC News reports.

“Individuals implicated in committing fraud, heinous crimes such as sexual abuse, or expressing support for terrorism should never have been naturalized as United States citizens,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

“The Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system. Those who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law,” Blanche added.

According to the Justice Department, the naturalised U.S. citizens targeted in the cases originate from Bolivia, Colombia, Nigeria, Somalia, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Iran, India and China.

Officials said some of the individuals had been convicted of crimes in the United States, while others allegedly had criminal convictions in their home countries. Several are also accused of immigration fraud.

According to the National Immigration Forum, denaturalisation in the United States can only occur through a judicial order. The group said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services refers civil and criminal denaturalisation cases to the Justice Department when there is “sufficient evidence” that an individual meets the legal grounds for revocation of citizenship.

The organisation noted that individuals stripped of U.S. citizenship revert to the immigration status they held before naturalisation. Those left without lawful immigration status could face deportation, and some may also serve prison sentences if citizenship was revoked due to criminal convictions.

By Sabina Mammadli