Justice Department Files Civil Complaints Seeking to Revoke Citizenship of 10 Naturalized Citizens

Civil complaints filed by the Justice Department over the past 30 days in federal courts target 10 naturalized citizens from Cuba, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru and Poland for revocation of their U.S. citizenship, assisted by the Department of Homeland Security. The filings allege that each concealed crimes such as child sexual abuse, fraud and drug trafficking when applying for naturalization.

Washington Examiner reported the complaints. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the individuals lied their way into U.S. citizenship. “These ten criminal aliens — including child sex abusers, a $900,000 Medicare fraudster, and a cocaine trafficker — lied their way into U.S. citizenship,” Blanche said.

One defendant, Yoskmaikel Rodriguez Perez, a Cuban native, submitted more than $886,000 in fraudulent Medicare claims before becoming a citizen in 2018 and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud. Another, Omar Cantu-Montalvo, a Mexican native, joined a conspiracy to distribute more than 10 pounds of cocaine months before applying for citizenship in 2005.

Four cases involve sexual offenses against children.

Martin Garcia Cardiel received consecutive terms of 15 years to life after a Utah jury convicted him of 19 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that fraud during the naturalization process forfeits the right to keep U.S. citizenship.

“These criminal aliens, comprised of drug traffickers, pedophiles, and fraudsters, lost that right and exploited our immigration system—harming real U.S. citizens,” Mullin said.