Indian Origin Man Among 25 In Biggest US Denaturalisation Fraud Crackdown

Indian origin man Narinder Singh is among 25 naturalised US citizens facing proceedings to revoke their citizenship as the US Justice Department launches its largest coordinated denaturalisation drive targeting alleged fraud, concealment of facts and serious criminal conduct.

Denaturalisation means the legal cancellation of citizenship granted through naturalisation when authorities prove that a person obtained citizenship through fraud, false statements, concealment of important information or unlawful methods. In the United States, citizenship cannot be removed automatically. The Justice Department must present the case before a federal court, and a judge decides whether citizenship should be revoked.

The Justice Department has filed a civil case against 65 year old Singh in the District of Delaware, alleging that he used a fraudulent identity to gain admission to the United States. Authorities said Singh allegedly used two identities from 1996 before becoming a naturalised US citizen on May 1, 2008.

The complaint against Singh includes seven counts of alleged misrepresentation and unlawful actions, which prosecutors claim affected his eligibility for citizenship by raising concerns over his character during the naturalisation process.

The latest proceedings also include Zia Murad Bhatti and Mohd Wasif, two individuals of Pakistani origin, who are accused of allegedly falsifying their identities.

US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said American citizenship is one of the country’s highest privileges and must be obtained through lawful means. He alleged that the individuals targeted in the cases secured citizenship by hiding criminal records, fraudulent identities or other facts that could have prevented approval.

The complaints, filed between July 20 and August 3, involve naturalised citizens originally from 17 countries, including India, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, Taiwan, Honduras, Cameroon, Jordan, Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, Sweden, Moldova and Liberia.

The allegations across the cases include identity fraud, passport fraud, marriage fraud, attempted murder, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, bank fraud, credit card fraud and practising medicine without a licence.

The Justice Department said the latest filings bring the total number of denaturalisation cases initiated since January 20, 2025, to 123 as the administration intensifies efforts against individuals it says obtained citizenship unlawfully.

Civil Division Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate called the latest action the largest denaturalisation surge in recorded history, saying the department would continue challenging citizenship obtained through alleged fraud or concealment.