US federal prosecutors have filed a civil case seeking to revoke the citizenship of an India-born man accused of obtaining naturalisation through a false identity and misleading immigration records.
The District of Oregon has filed a civil denaturalisation complaint against Jaswinder Singh, also known as Balwinder Singh, 54, alleging he illegally obtained US citizenship by concealing his immigration history and providing false information about his identity.
According to court documents, Singh first applied for an immigration benefit in August 1990 under the name Balwinder Singh. An immigration judge rejected the application in November that year and ordered him to leave the United States.
After an unsuccessful appeal, Singh was ordered to surrender to immigration authorities in July 1993 but allegedly failed to do so.
Prosecutors allege that Singh submitted a second immigration application in November 1994 under the name Jaswinder Singh, providing a different identity, date of birth and date of entry into the United States.
The application was approved by an immigration judge in August 2003, allowing Singh to become a permanent resident after certifying under penalty of perjury that the information he provided was accurate.
A decade later, on 3 June 2013, US Citizenship and Immigration Services approved Singh’s application for naturalisation. Prosecutors allege that Singh again signed documents under penalty of perjury confirming the accuracy of his application and supporting evidence.
The complaint alleges Singh’s citizenship was unlawfully obtained because he was not eligible for lawful permanent residence and because he provided false information during his naturalisation interview.
It also alleges that he obtained citizenship through the concealment of a material fact or through deliberate misrepresentation.
Under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, a federal court can revoke a person’s naturalisation if the government proves any of the allegations.
The case is being investigated by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and Singh has not been found liable.
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