The Trump administration is stepping up efforts to revoke the citizenship of naturalised Americans, with the US Justice Department on Monday filing lawsuits against 17 people accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealing serious crimes.
Among those targeted is a Chinese-born resident of the state of Georgia who prosecutors say hid a prior deportation order and immigration history under a different identity before becoming a US citizen in 2006.
The announcement was accompanied by statements from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, underscoring the administration’s effort to present denaturalisation as a coordinated immigration-enforcement priority.
Advertisement
Blanche said the Justice Department had “zero tolerance” for abuse of the naturalisation process, while Mullin said the Department of Homeland Security would use “every lawful avenue” to identify people who had fraudulently obtained citizenship. Shumate said the department would continue pursuing individuals who unlawfully procured naturalisation or concealed material facts during the process.
The cases, filed in federal courts across the country, involve allegations ranging from child sexual abuse and drug trafficking to immigration fraud. The department said the lawsuits sought to revoke citizenship from individuals who either illegally procured naturalisation or obtained it through wilful misrepresentation.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Advertisement