US Moves to Strip Citizenship From 17 Naturalized Americans
Seventeen people became U.S. citizens — and now the government wants to take that citizenship away. On June 12, 2026, USCIS and the Department of Justice announced they filed court actions to strip naturalization from people convicted of crimes ranging from child sexual abuse to multi-million dollar fraud. The cases reveal a hard truth: lying during the naturalization process can cost you everything, even years later.
What happened: 17 denaturalization cases filed in 2026
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on June 12, 2026, that they filed legal actions in multiple U.S. district courts to revoke the citizenship of 17 naturalized Americans. The cases involve people originally from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, India, Jamaica, the Philippines, and other countries. The crimes include sexual abuse of minors, health care fraud, drug distribution, securities fraud, and money laundering.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (the main federal law governing immigration and citizenship), the government can revoke — or "denaturalize" — a person's citizenship if they obtained it illegally or by hiding important facts. In nearly every case announced, the individuals told USCIS during their naturalization interviews that they had never committed a crime. That was a lie. For example, Neeraj Sharma, originally from India, filed 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions (the work visa for skilled foreign workers) and then swore under oath during his 2017 naturalization interview that he had never given false information to a U.S. government official. He was later convicted of visa fraud. Similarly, Jean Claude Alfred from Haiti began sexually abusing his minor daughter one month before filing his naturalization application — and told USCIS he had committed no crimes.
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Naturalization: from N-400 to the Oath
Several cases also involved people who used false identities to enter the U.S. after being denied immigration benefits under their real names. Abdikadir Ali Kadiye from Somalia applied for admission under two separate identities. Louise Hunkporti from Congo was discovered decades later when USCIS digitized old fingerprint records and matched them to a denied application from 1995. The government used those fingerprints to connect both identities to the same person.
What denaturalization means in practice
Denaturalization does not happen automatically. The government must file a civil complaint in federal court and prove its case. If a judge agrees, the person loses their U.S. citizenship and their naturalization certificate is canceled. After that, the person may face removal proceedings — the formal legal process to deport someone from the United States. These cases were investigated with help from ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and multiple U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country.
What to do
- Be completely honest on every immigration form. If you are applying for a green card, a work permit (Form I-765, the Employment Authorization Document), or naturalization (Form N-400), you must disclose all arrests and criminal history — even if charges were dropped or you were not convicted. Hiding this information is considered willful misrepresentation and can be used against you later.
- If you have a criminal record, talk to an immigration lawyer before you file anything. Even minor offenses can affect your eligibility for naturalization. A lawyer can help you understand what you must disclose and how it may affect your case.
- If you are already a naturalized citizen and you lied on your application, do not wait. Lawyers recommend consulting an immigration attorney immediately to understand your risk and options. The government can file denaturalization actions years or even decades after naturalization.
- To report immigration fraud by others, you can use the USCIS Tip Form at uscis.gov.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “The Path to U.S. Citizenship”.
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These cases make clear that USCIS and DOJ are actively cross-referencing criminal conviction records against naturalization applications, sometimes years after citizenship was granted. If you have any undisclosed criminal history — arrests, convictions, or even conduct for which you were never charged — and you are planning to apply for naturalization, you need a legal review before you file Form N-400. For those already naturalized who may have omitted information, the statute of limitations for civil denaturalization actions can be long, so waiting is not a safe strategy — consult an immigration attorney to assess your exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the U.S. government take away my citizenship after I already became a citizen?
Yes. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the government can file a court action to revoke your citizenship if it was obtained illegally or by hiding important facts. This is called denaturalization. It requires a federal court order — it does not happen automatically — but the government can file these cases years or even decades after you naturalized.
What counts as hiding a 'material fact' during naturalization?
A material fact is any information that could have affected USCIS's decision to approve your application. This includes criminal arrests, convictions, or conduct — even if you were never charged. It also includes using a false identity, lying about your marital status, or giving false information to get a green card or other immigration benefit before you applied for citizenship.
If I am denaturalized, will I be deported?
Losing your citizenship does not automatically mean deportation, but it may lead to removal proceedings — the formal legal process to deport someone. After denaturalization, you return to the immigration status you had before becoming a citizen, or you may be considered undocumented. ICE can then begin removal proceedings. Each case is different, so the outcome depends on your specific situation.
I have a minor criminal record. Can I still apply for naturalization?
It depends on the type of offense and when it happened. Some crimes permanently bar you from naturalizing; others may only affect your eligibility during a specific time period. You must disclose all criminal history on Form N-400 (the application for U.S. citizenship). Immigration lawyers strongly recommend getting a legal consultation before filing if you have any criminal history, no matter how minor it seems.