Who are the 17 people the U.S. Department of Justice wants to strip of their U.S. citizenship? From sex offenders to scammers, full list revealed
Ministry of Justice (U.S. Department of Justice) has taken action to revoke the citizenship of 17 naturalized Americans. These naturalized immigrants are accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud, concealment of criminal conduct, or misrepresentation during the immigration process.
Under U.S. law, citizenship can be revoked if it was “unlawfully acquired” or obtained through willful misrepresentation of material facts.
The unprecedented batch of denaturalization cases announced on June 8 targets individuals from India, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Somalia, the Philippines and China.
Read more: Why is Trump seeking to revoke the citizenship of 17 Americans? explain
Why is U.S. citizenship revoked?
The department said the lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across the country and involve individuals accused or convicted of crimes including child sexual abuse, health care fraud, securities fraud, visa fraud, money laundering, identity fraud and illegal drug distribution.
Acting Attorney General Todd Branch said the cases demonstrated a “zero tolerance policy” for those suspected of abusing the naturalization process.
“Acquiring U.S. citizenship is a privilege, and under President Trump’s steadfast leadership, the Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy against abuses of this process,” Branch said.
“We will continue to work around the clock with our interagency partners to ensure that those who truly deserve it can obtain U.S. citizenship,” he added.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reiterated that citizenship is a privilege that must be earned honestly. “U.S. citizenship is a privilege and must be earned honestly. If you come here in violation of our laws and lie during the immigration process, you will lose that privilege.”
“We will continue to use all legal means to cancel and deport foreigners,” he added.
Who are the 17 people named by the US Department of Justice?
According to court documents released by the Department of Justice, the 17 people include:
Show fraud
1. Neeraj Sharma, 50 (India) is the former CEO of Magnavision LLC, a New Jersey staffing firm. Prosecutors allege Sharma submitted a fraudulent H-1B visa application using forged company documents and then concealed the conduct during the naturalization process. He was later convicted of visa fraud.
Sex crimes and sexual abuse of minors
2. Jean-Claude Alfred, 68 (Haiti) Convicted of sexually abusing his minor daughter. Authorities say he concealed the abuse while applying for citizenship in the 1990s
3. Fernando Cristanjo, 69 years old (Colombia) is a former Catholic priest who was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of minors. Prosecutors said he concealed the abuse during immigration proceedings.
4. Jheromell Obejera Arcilla, 39 years old (Philippines) Convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old relative before becoming a citizen. The U.S. filed three charges against Arcilla seeking to revoke his citizenship, including accusations that he lacked the good moral character to become a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly lied to immigration authorities.
5. Tahir Lekaj, 43 years old (Yugoslavia) Convicted of child sexual abuse in Connecticut for five years. The abuse began when the child was 10 years old and continued until the child turned 15 years old. Authorities said the abuse occurred before he was naturalized.
6. Armando Mendoza, 39 years old (Mexico) Pleaded guilty to receiving sexually explicit images of a minor after naturalization. Prosecutors said the behavior began before he became a citizen.
7. Ronnie Price, 40 years old (Trinidad and Tobago) Accused of concealing statutory rape committed before naturalization.
Money laundering and identity fraud
8. Leidys Delmas Garcia, 54 (Cuba) Allegedly involved in a health care fraud scheme that billed insurance companies more than $36 million. The United States sought an order to revoke Delmas Garcia’s naturalization after she admitted in a criminal complaint that she and her associates founded and operated 30 physical therapy clinics in Florida and billed commercial insurance companies false fees.
9. Andrea Marroquin, 44 (Colombia)The daughter of a Colombian drug trafficker is suspected of concealing bigamy and participating in wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.
10. Maria Lourdes Montoya, 63 (Mexico) Charged with obtaining immigration benefits through false marital status related to a deceased U.S. citizen.
Montoya claimed to be the spouse of U.S. citizen Gilberto Montoya in support of her application for naturalization and permanent residence. However, Montia never married Gilberto Montoya, who died many years ago. Instead, Montoya married Ernesto Orozco-Veramontes, a Mexican who inherited Gilberto’s identity.
11. Talman Harris, 49 years old (Jamaica) Convicted of a multimillion-dollar securities fraud scheme that allegedly resulted in nearly $39 million in losses to investors.
12. Federico Michel Fermin, 54 years old (Dominican Republic) Convicted of conspiracy involving illegal wholesale of prescription drugs.
13. Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres (Cuba) Alleged laundering of proceeds from multimillion-dollar casino fraud scheme. Fermin conspired with others to wholesale more than $1.7 million worth of prescription drugs without authorization. Fermin also changed drug packaging to make prescription drugs distributed to pharmacies appear to have been purchased from licensed individuals.
14. Abdikadir Ali Kadiye, 54 years old (Somalia) Allegedly using multiple identities to seek entry into the United States. Kadieh initially sought entry to the United States as Liban M. Degel. He also claimed that he was married and had no children.
After an immigration judge denied his application for immigration benefits, Kadyeh filed a second application as Abdiqadir Ali Kadyeh.
15. Victor San Shing Kwok, 50 years old (China) Allegedly concealing previous deportation orders and decisions to deny immigration. Guo initially sought entry into the United States under the identity of Guo Xincheng, but was denied entry.
He married a U.S. citizen and hid a previous denial order seeking immigration benefits when he adjusted his residency.
16. Louise Hunkporti, 64 years old (Congo) Allegedly adopted new identity after being denied immigration benefits. Hunkporti became a naturalized U.S. citizen by adoption on March 2, 2010.
17. Roger George Gurdon, 55 years old (Jamaica) Allegedly involved in a pre-naturalization conspiracy to steal military medical supplies and distribute marijuana.
