Is the US Really Moving to Revoke the Citizenship of a Convicted Rapist?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Washington, Feb 3 (NationPress) The United States has initiated a civil lawsuit aiming to revoke the citizenship of an Indian-born individual found guilty of rape and kidnapping. The Justice Department stated that he concealed violent crimes during the naturalization process.
According to the complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York, Gurmeet Singh allegedly misrepresented important facts on his naturalization application, including a previous incident where he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a female passenger while serving as a taxicab driver.
As per the complaint, after the passenger dozed off in the back seat, Singh diverted to a secluded street, where she woke to find him threatening her with a knife. He reportedly instructed her to stop resisting if she wished to survive. Singh then bound and gagged her, blindfolded her, stripped her, and assaulted her, stated the Justice Department.
Despite these alleged heinous acts, Singh navigated through the naturalization process and became a US citizen on October 19, 2011, as mentioned in the filing.
After acquiring citizenship, Singh faced conviction in New York state court for Rape in the First Degree and Kidnapping in the Second Degree as a sexually motivated felony and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
“This Department of Justice will persist in revoking citizenship from individuals who commit egregious crimes and conceal them during the naturalization process,” stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “American citizenship is a profound privilege that must be obtained honestly.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate from the Justice Department’s Civil Division emphasized that Singh should have never obtained citizenship.
“This person’s despicable actions demonstrate that he was unworthy of US citizenship,” Shumate asserted. “Singh immigrated through family-based laws, then perpetrated vile crimes while deceiving authorities to gain US citizenship. We will rectify this injustice.”
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, US officials possess the authority to revoke naturalized citizenship and annul a certificate of naturalization if it was illegally acquired or procured through the concealment of significant facts or intentional misrepresentation.