Federal Court Revokes Citizenship of Indian-Origin Man Following Rape Conviction
WASHINGTON: In a decisive move against immigration fraud, a federal court has stripped a 55-year-old Indian-origin man of his US citizenship after it was revealed he concealed a violent criminal history during his naturalization process.
Gurmeet Singh, who was granted US citizenship in 2011, has had his status revoked following a high-profile legal battle involving his 2014 conviction for a brutal kidnapping and sexual assault.
A History of Deceit
According to the US Justice Department, Singh originally entered the United States in February 1992 as a temporary visitor. After remaining in the country without authorization for years, he eventually adjusted his status to become a permanent resident in 2000.
In May 2011, Singh—then working as a taxicab driver—perpetrated a violent attack on a female passenger. While the victim was asleep in his vehicle, Singh reportedly held her at knifepoint, binding and gagging her before raping her. Following the assault, the victim managed to escape and seek help, eventually leading to law enforcement intervention.
Despite committing this heinous act, Singh proceeded with his application for naturalization. By failing to disclose the rape and kidnapping to immigration authorities, he successfully obtained his US citizenship in October 2011, just months after the attack. He was subsequently tried and convicted in New York of first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping, receiving a 20-year prison sentence.
Justice Department’s Stance
The US Department of Justice has made it clear that criminal behavior cannot be shielded by fraudulently obtained citizenship. In a formal statement, the agency confirmed that a federal court in the Eastern District of New York entered the judgment revoking Singh’s naturalization on August 26.
“Gurmeet Singh, a convicted rapist from India, is no longer a US citizen,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “He concealed a rape and kidnapping during the naturalisation process, and a federal court has now revoked his citizenship. This department took this case across the finish line, and we will continue to move expeditiously on denaturalisation referrals. Fraudulently obtained citizenship will not protect criminals from justice.”
A Strong Message
Legal experts view this development as a stark warning to those attempting to bypass the integrity of the US immigration system. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate noted that Singh had unlawfully obtained the privileges of American citizenship by deliberately hiding his violent crimes.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. echoed this sentiment, stating, “The court’s judgment, which requires the defendant to surrender his wrongfully obtained citizenship, sends a strong message to those who obtain citizenship through deceit, and demonstrates the administration’s resolve to pursue denaturalisation proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”
The case highlights the ongoing commitment of federal authorities to identify and prosecute individuals who compromise the integrity of the naturalization process through fraud.
