An India-born businessman is among 17 naturalised Americans facing denaturalisation as the Trump administration expands efforts to revoke citizenship allegedly obtained through fraud, according to media reports.
The US Department of Justice said it has filed denaturalisation cases against 17 naturalised citizens accused of securing American citizenship through fraud, concealment or misrepresentation. The group includes individuals convicted of immigration and financial fraud, as well as violent and sexual offences.
Among them is Neeraj Sharma, 50, a former chief executive of a New Jersey-based staffing company.
According to court documents cited by the Justice Department, Sharma submitted 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions that falsely claimed foreign workers would be employed by a major financial institution. Authorities alleged the applications contained forged signatures and fabricated supporting documents.
The Justice Department said Sharma later applied for US citizenship in 2017 and declared under oath that he had not committed offences for which he had not been arrested, had not provided false information to US authorities and had not lied to obtain immigration benefits. He became a US citizen later that year.
Sharma was subsequently convicted of visa fraud linked to conduct that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2017. Federal authorities are now seeking to revoke his citizenship, arguing that he concealed unlawful acts and obtained naturalisation through material misrepresentations.
The action against Sharma forms part of a wider push by the Trump administration to increase the use of denaturalisation proceedings. Under US law, citizenship granted through naturalisation can be revoked if the government proves it was obtained unlawfully or through fraud.
The Justice Department is also pursuing similar proceedings against 16 other individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, including immigration fraud, financial offences and sex crimes involving minors.
According to media reports, denaturalisation has historically been rare in the United States, largely reserved for cases involving war criminals, national security threats and individuals who concealed serious criminal conduct. However, the administration has broadened its focus to include certain immigration and financial fraud offences.
Those facing denaturalisation will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations in federal court. If successful, the proceedings could strip them of US citizenship and make them liable to deportation.
