U.S. Justice Department seeks denaturalization of 10 naturalized criminals

The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has filed denaturalization actions in federal courts against ten naturalized citizens who were convicted of serious crimes, including child sexual abuse, Medicare and wire fraud, immigration fraud and cocaine trafficking. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the individuals “lacked the good moral character required by law and procured citizenship through willful misrepresentations and concealment of their crimes.” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed that “when you commit fraud during the naturalization process, you forfeit the right to keep your U.S. citizenship.”

The ten defendants hail from Cuba, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru and Poland. Notable cases include Cuban‑born Yoskmaikel Rodriguez Perez, who submitted more than $886,000 in false Medicare claims before naturalizing in 2018, and Pakistani‑born Murtaza Ali, who used multiple identities to obtain permanent residency and citizenship. The government is invoking the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows revocation of naturalization when obtained by fraud or material misrepresentation. Officials described the effort as the “largest denaturalization effort ever” undertaken by the U.S. administration.

The actions represent a major enforcement push by the Trump administration to restore integrity to the naturalization system by targeting foreign‑born individuals whose citizenship was allegedly obtained through deception.