Indian Man Among 25 Charged in US Citizenship Fraud Crackdown

The complaints, filed in federal courts across the country, target individuals from 17 countries, including India, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria, Sweden, and El Salvador. Among them is Narinder Singh, a 65-year-old Indian American man accused of entering the U.S. around 1996 using two false identities and later obtaining citizenship in May 2008.

The complaint against Singh, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, includes seven counts of material misrepresentations and unlawful acts, alleging he concealed his true background throughout his immigration applications. Federal law allows revocation of naturalized status if citizenship was obtained through fraud or concealment of disqualifying history.

Other cases involve more serious allegations, including attempted murder, child sexual abuse, domestic assault, bank fraud, marriage fraud, credit card fraud, and practicing medicine without a license. Two Pakistani nationals, Zia Murad Bhatti and Mohd Wasif, also face denaturalization for alleged identity falsification.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement, 'U.S. citizenship is one of our nation's highest privileges, and it must be obtained lawfully and honestly.' He added that the department will continue to pursue individuals who secured citizenship through illegal means or fraud.

Since January 2025, the Justice Department has filed 123 denaturalization complaints, making this the largest coordinated effort in its history. If the civil suits succeed, the defendants will lose their citizenship and face potential removal proceedings.