The US Department of Justice has initiated proceedings to revoke the citizenship of 17 naturalised Americans, including an Indian-origin businessman accused of H-1B visa fraud, in a fresh crackdown on individuals alleged to have obtained citizenship through concealment or misrepresentation.
Among those named is Neeraj Sharma, 50, owner of New Jersey-based staffing company Magnavision LLC. According to the Justice Department, Sharma allegedly signed and filed 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions claiming that foreign workers would be employed by a global financial institution.
Authorities said the supporting letters submitted with the visa applications carried forged signatures of executives from the financial institution. The alleged fraud took place between April 2015 and April 2017.
Citizenship under scrutiny
The Justice Department said Sharma applied for US naturalisation in 2017 and allegedly provided false testimony under oath during his citizenship interview regarding his prior criminal conduct. He became a US citizen in December 2017 and was later convicted of fraud and misuse of visas.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the US government can revoke the citizenship of a naturalised citizen if it determines that citizenship was obtained illegally or through concealment of material facts or wilful misrepresentation.
“American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly. If you come here, break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department would continue pursuing cases involving individuals who allegedly abused the naturalisation process.
“When criminal aliens exploit the naturalisation process by breaking the law, there are consequences. Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug dealers, sexual predators, and fraudsters. Gaining US citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process,” Blanche said.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate added: “We will not turn a blind eye to those who unlawfully obtained US citizenship.”
The latest denaturalisation actions also target individuals accused or convicted of offences including child sexual abuse, child exploitation, fraud and money laundering. Among them are immigrants from Haiti, the former Yugoslavia, Mexico, Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba and the Philippines, according to the Justice Department.
