WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has launched a major crackdown aimed at revoking the citizenship of foreign-born Americans, including an Indian-origin businessman accused of multimillion-dollar fraud, as US authorities expand denaturalisation proceedings involving alleged financial crimes, terrorism-related links, and immigration fraud.
According to the Justice Department, proceedings have been initiated against a dozen citizens, including the Indian-origin businessman alleged to have defrauded investors of millions of dollars.
Officials said the individuals in question either concealed critical facts during their immigration and naturalisation processes or engaged in conduct that would have disqualified them from obtaining US citizenship had it been disclosed at the time.
Among the cases highlighted is that of Debashis Ghosh, originally from India, who is accused of orchestrating an investment fraud scheme amounting to approximately $2.5 million.
Authorities allege that Ghosh misled investors before acquiring US citizenship and continued fraudulent activity after naturalisation by misrepresenting how and where investor funds were handled.
The broader enforcement action also includes individuals accused of terrorism-related activity, war crimes, and firearms trafficking, signalling an expanded use of denaturalisation as a legal tool in immigration enforcement.
According to a report published by the Pakistan Independent newspaper, the cases have been filed through the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, in coordination with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and federal prosecutors across multiple states, according to officials.
Denaturalisation is a rare and complex legal process involving the revocation of citizenship acquired through naturalisation. It must be pursued in federal court and requires a high burden of proof.
Between 1990 and 2017, US authorities filed just over 300 denaturalisation cases, averaging around 11 annually, making the current escalation significant in comparison to historical trends.
Under US law, the government must demonstrate either intentional misrepresentation or concealment of material facts during the citizenship process in order to succeed in such cases.
The Trump administration has increasingly framed denaturalisation as part of a wider immigration enforcement strategy. Officials maintain that citizenship obtained through deception undermines the integrity of the immigration system and should be revoked when substantiated in court.
Although the latest wave of cases does not include individuals from Pakistan or other South Asian countries, the involvement of an Indian-origin defendant is expected to draw attention across the region’s large diaspora in the United States.
Observers note that the policy is not aimed at any single nationality but reflects a broader tightening of scrutiny over all naturalised citizens as part of enhanced immigration enforcement.
The announcement comes amid wider policy changes, including stricter background checks and renewed examination of historical immigration records for possible fraud or misrepresentation.
Civil liberties organisations have raised concerns that expanding denaturalisation efforts could create anxiety among immigrant communities and discourage eligible residents from applying for US citizenship.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how many of the current proceedings may ultimately result in criminal prosecution, loss of citizenship, or deportation proceedings.
