Becoming a U.S. citizen is one of the most significant milestones for any immigrant. But few people know that in some rare and serious cases, citizenship can be taken away—automatically and permanently. This process, known as denaturalization, is tied to a specific and serious criminal charge: naturalization fraud.
What Is Naturalization Fraud?
Naturalization fraud occurs when someone knowingly lies or withholds key information during the citizenship application process (Form N-400). It’s not just a mistake like forgetting to mention a past address. We’re talking about deliberate lies—especially when answering the question, “Have you ever committed a crime for which you were not arrested?”
If you answer "no" to this question, but years later you're arrested and convicted of a crime that happened before you applied for citizenship, the government can take action. If it’s determined that you lied on your application, your citizenship can be revoked after a criminal conviction. This involves a process called Denaturalization.
Real Case Example: What Happened to a Nigerian-Born U.S. Citizen
Let’s look at the case of a Nigerian-born man named Okoro. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. However, prior to applying, he had committed crimes related to a massive $80 million fraud scheme. He had not yet been arrested when he applied for citizenship, and on his application, he denied ever having committed any crimes.
Fast forward to 2024: he was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud. Because those crimes occurred before he applied for citizenship—and because he lied about them—he now faces not only a 30-year prison sentence but also a loss of U.S. citizenship.
How the Government Detects Naturalization Fraud
Federal agencies like ICE and USCIS work behind the scenes using advanced databases and inter-agency cooperation to detect immigration fraud. They look at past criminal records, even if the person wasn’t arrested at the time of the offense. If they discover discrepancies between a person’s history and their naturalization application, they can build a case for criminal charges and denaturalization.
Partner agencies involved in these investigations include:
- The Department of Justice
- FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services
- USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate
- U.S. Department of State
- Diplomatic Security Service
Legal Basis for Denaturalization
There are multiple court cases backing this policy. For example, in U.S. v. Garcia (2018), the Fourth Circuit Court held that revocation of citizenship is required if someone is convicted of making false statements about their criminal history during naturalization. Another ruling from 2014 reached a similar conclusion.
These decisions make it clear: naturalization obtained through fraud can be undone.
What You Can Do
Losing U.S. citizenship is rare, but for those accused of naturalization fraud, the consequences are life-changing. If you’re in this situation, or fear it could apply to you, it's vital to get legal help right away. Every case is different, and some people may have valid defenses—but time is critical.
Stay informed, answer truthfully in all immigration processes, and don’t take your citizenship for granted. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
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You can also watch our video on the matter: https://youtube.com/shorts/FCt_JMsk4qU