Politics · India Bureau
US court strips citizenship from Indian-origin man convicted of rape
A US federal court has revoked the citizenship of an Indian national who concealed serious criminal convictions during his naturalisation process. The decision underscores American authorities' commitment to revoking citizenship obtained through fraud.
LSN India ·
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has annulled the naturalisation of Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-origin resident convicted of rape, according to the office of US Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Singh, a native of India, first entered the United States in February 1992 on a temporary visitor visa valid for six months. He subsequently remained in the country without legal authorisation for several years before obtaining permanent resident status through a family-based immigrant visa petition in June 2000. He later acquired US citizenship, which has now been revoked.
The Attorney General's office stated that Singh concealed a rape and kidnapping conviction during his naturalisation application. "Fraudulently obtained citizenship will not protect criminals from justice," Blanche said in a statement, emphasising that American citizenship cannot serve as a shield for those who obtained it through deception.
The case highlights ongoing US government efforts to identify and revoke citizenship granted to individuals who fail to disclose serious criminal conduct or other material facts during the naturalisation process. Immigration authorities continue to review cases where applicants may have concealed information relevant to their eligibility for citizenship.