US seeks to revoke citizenship of Pakistani man who used fake IDs
Synopsis
The US Justice Department's move against Zia Murad Bhatti is not an isolated case — it is one thread in a 25-person denaturalisation action that Acting AG Todd Blanche calls 'only the beginning.' With 123 civil denaturalisation proceedings filed since Trump's second term began, the administration is rewriting the scale of citizenship enforcement in American history.
Key Takeaways
The US Department of Justice has filed to denaturalise Zia Murad Bhatti , 59 , a Pakistani national , who allegedly entered the US in 1992 under a false name and later fraudulently obtained citizenship.
Bhatti is one of 25 individuals targeted in this coordinated denaturalisation action — described by officials as the largest in department history.
Indian national Narinder Singh , 65 , is also facing denaturalisation after allegedly using two identities to enter the US in 1996 and becoming a citizen in 2008 .
Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche called the filings 'the largest coordinated denaturalisation effort in Department history' and warned of more to come.
Since 20 January last year, the Justice Department has filed 123 civil denaturalisation proceedings — 'the most in recorded history,' according to officials.
President Donald Trump has made deportation of undocumented migrants and enforcement of immigration law a defining pillar of his second term.
The US Department of Justice has moved a federal court in Delaware to denaturalise Zia Murad Bhatti, a 59-year-old Pakistani national, who allegedly entered the United States illegally in 1992 under a false identity and later obtained citizenship through fraudulent means. The case is part of what officials describe as the largest coordinated denaturalisation drive in the department's history.
How Bhatti Allegedly Obtained Citizenship
According to the Justice Department's complaint, Bhatti first entered the US using the name Raza Moorad and was subsequently ordered to leave the country. Instead of complying, he allegedly assumed the Bhatti surname, married a US citizen, and used that union to pursue a path to citizenship. The complaint charges him with perjury, concealment of material facts, wilful misrepresentation, and providing false testimony — all grounds under US law for denaturalisation.
Part of a 25-Person Denaturalisation Push
Bhatti is among 25 individuals whose citizenship the US government is seeking to revoke in this coordinated action. Officials noted that several others on the list face charges tied to more serious offences, including attempted murder and sexual assault of a child. A separate complaint has also been filed against Narinder Singh, 65, an Indian national, who allegedly used two separate identities to gain entry to the US beginning in 1996 and was naturalised in 2008. The complaint alleges that Singh's repeated misrepresentations and unlawful conduct adversely reflect on his 'moral character' — a statutory requirement for citizenship.
What Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche Said
Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche stated: 'Today's filings represent the largest coordinated denaturalisation effort in Department history, but they are only the beginning.' The statement signals that the current administration intends to significantly escalate such proceedings beyond this initial batch.
Earlier Case: Murtaza Ali and the Pattern of Multiple Identities
This is not the first such action under the current administration. In July, Murtaza Ali, 65, a Pakistani national, was accused of filing multiple immigration applications under different aliases before obtaining permanent residency and eventually US citizenship in 2009 under the name Muhammad Iqbal. Federal authorities said a fingerprint analysis subsequently linked the disparate applications to the same individual. Ali is among 10 naturalised citizens facing denaturalisation as part of that earlier tranche.
The Broader Immigration Policy Context
President Donald Trump, since beginning his second term on 20 January last year, has made the deportation of undocumented migrants and individuals with criminal records a centrepiece of his immigration agenda. The Justice Department has filed 123 civil denaturalisation proceedings since then — a figure officials describe as 'the most in recorded history.' Critics and immigration advocates have raised concerns about due process, though the administration has defended the actions as necessary to uphold the integrity of the naturalisation system. The scale and pace of these filings represent a sharp departure from prior administrations, which pursued denaturalisation far more selectively.
Point of View
Where denaturalisation was reserved for war criminals and the most egregious fraud cases. The inclusion of individuals like Bhatti — whose offence, while serious, does not involve violence — alongside those accused of attempted murder and child sexual assault raises questions about proportionality and the criteria being applied. Immigration advocates will likely challenge the breadth of the effort in court; the administration's framing of this as 'only the beginning' ensures the legal and political battle is far from over.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Zia Murad Bhatti and why is the US seeking to revoke his citizenship?
Zia Murad Bhatti is a 59-year-old Pakistani national who allegedly entered the United States illegally in 1992 under the false name Raza Moorad and was ordered to leave. Instead, he allegedly married a US citizen under the Bhatti name and obtained citizenship through that route. The Justice Department has charged him with perjury, concealment of facts, wilful misrepresentation, and false testimony.
What is the scale of the current US denaturalisation effort?
The current action targets 25 individuals and is described by Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche as the largest coordinated denaturalisation effort in the Department of Justice's history. Since President Trump began his second term on 20 January last year, the DOJ has filed 123 civil denaturalisation proceedings in total — the most in recorded history, according to officials.
Is any Indian national also facing denaturalisation?
Yes. Narinder Singh, 65, an Indian national, is also facing denaturalisation proceedings. He allegedly used two separate identities to gain entry to the US beginning in 1996 and was naturalised in 2008. The complaint alleges his misrepresentations adversely reflect on his moral character, which is a legal requirement for citizenship.
Who is Murtaza Ali and how does his case fit in?
Murtaza Ali, 65, a Pakistani national, was accused in July of filing multiple immigration applications under different aliases before obtaining US citizenship in 2009 under the name Muhammad Iqbal. Federal authorities linked his various applications through fingerprint analysis. He is among 10 naturalised citizens in an earlier denaturalisation tranche under the Trump administration.
What is the broader immigration policy driving these actions?
President Donald Trump has made removing undocumented migrants and enforcing immigration law a central policy of his second term. The denaturalisation drive is an extension of that agenda, targeting individuals who allegedly obtained citizenship through fraud or concealment of criminal history. Officials have stated the current filings are 'only the beginning,' signalling further escalation.
