WASHINGTON — In what federal prosecutors are calling the largest coordinated crackdown on unlawful naturalization in US history, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of 25 individuals, including a 65-year-old Indian-origin man.
The complaint against the Indian national, identified as Narinder Singh, was filed in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. Federal authorities allege that Singh used dual identities to fraudulently gain entry into the United States starting in 1996 before securing US citizenship on May 1, 2008.
The DOJ's seven-count complaint against Singh details allegations of systematic misrepresentation and unlawful conduct, which prosecutors argue severely undermine his moral character qualification required for citizenship.
A Broader Federal Enforcement Push
The action against Singh forms part of a wider enforcement initiative targetting individuals who allegedly secured naturalization through deceptive or illegal means. According to federal officials, the group of 25 individuals spans natives of 17 countries, including India, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria, Taiwan, Sweden, and Jordan. Among those facing denaturalization are two Pakistani nationals, Zia Murad Bhatti and Mohd Wasif, who are also accused of identity falsification.
"US citizenship is one of our nation's highest privileges, and it must be obtained lawfully and honestly," stated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "The complaints allege that these individuals secured naturalization through fraud, concealment, or other unlawful conduct—including concealing violent crimes, sexual offenses against children, fraudulent identities, and other disqualifying facts."
Blanche emphasized that the coordinated filings mark "only the beginning" of expanded federal efforts to scrutinize past naturalization cases.
Wide-Ranging Allegations
The Department of Justice confirmed that the 25 denaturalization cases filed between July 20 and August 3 involve severe allegations ranging from identity and passport fraud to violent crime and financial fraud. Specific grounds cited across the filings include attempted murder, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, marriage fraud, credit card fraud, and practicing medicine without a license.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division described the move as "the largest denaturalization surge in recorded history."
Since January 20, 2025, federal prosecutors have filed a total of 123 denaturalization complaints as authorities intensify scrutiny over foreign nationals accused of violating federal immigration laws during their citizenship applications.
