Justice Department seeks to revoke citizenship of 12 Naturalized Americans

Abu Sabet: The Justice Department said Friday it is seeking to revoke the citizenship of 12 naturalized Americans, claiming they obtained their citizenship fraudulently.

The department claimed the 12 individuals have been accused of serious offenses, including providing material support to a terrorist group, committing war crimes and sexually abusing a minor, which are grounds for denaturalization. "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. "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," he added.

The department filed the court documents to revoke the citizenship in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

The migrants were from multiple countries, including two citizens from Colombia and one each from Bolivia, China, Gambia, India, Iraq, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia and Uzbekistan.

"This Department of Justice continues to file denaturalization actions at record speeds to restore integrity in our naturalization process," Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the DOJ's Civil Division said. "The disturbing criminal histories confirm these individuals should have never received the privilege of U.S. citizenship.

"We remain committed to leveraging every tool available under the law to pursue those who obtain their U.S. citizenship unlawfully."

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