FOUR Caribbean Community nationals are among 17 foreigners, whom the Department of Justice says it has filed denaturalisation actions in various US district courts. The foreigners are accused of serious offences, including sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and distributing drugs wholesale without a licence.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a naturalised US citizen’s citizenship may be revoked, and certificate of naturalisation cancelled, if the naturalisation was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by wilful misrepresentation.
According to the Department of Justice, the Caribbean nationals are from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti.
The US justice officials said that before his naturalisation in 2016, 30-year-old Ronnie Price of Trinidad and Tobago had sexual intercourse with a female who was under 16, a statutory rape crime to which he eventually plead guilty.
They said during his naturalisation proceedings, however, Price claimed he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, he falsely testified to the same, and he concealed facts that would have uncovered his criminal activity.
‘The denaturalication complaint alleges that Price engaged in unlawful conduct during a critical statutory period during which he was required by law to maintain good moral character, that he provided false testimony during his naturalisation interview, and that he did so in order to conceal his crimes and wilfully misrepresent material facts that would have revealed his ineligibility for the privilege of United States citizenship,’ the Department of Justice said.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, said when criminal aliens exploit the naturalisation process by breaking the law, there are consequences.
‘Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug dealers, sexual predators, and fraudsters. Gaining US citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process,’ said Blanche.
‘We continue to work around the clock with our inter-agency partners to make sure US citizenship is granted to those who truly deserve it,’ he added.
