New York (Rajeev Sharma): A federal court in New York has cancelled the US citizenship of Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-born man serving a prison sentence for rape and kidnapping, after the Justice Department argued that he had concealed the offences during his citizenship application.
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued its judgment on August 26, requiring Singh to give up the citizenship he obtained in 2011.
The Justice Department said Singh’s naturalisation was improperly obtained because he failed to disclose serious criminal conduct that occurred shortly before he applied for citizenship.
Entered US as Visitor in 1992
Singh arrived in the United States in February 1992 on a temporary visitor status. Although he was initially permitted to remain for no more than six months, he stayed in the country beyond the authorised period.
He eventually became a lawful permanent resident in June 2000 through a family-based immigrant visa petition.
At the time of the incident that later led to his conviction, Singh was working as a taxi driver.
Woman Attacked During Taxi Ride
Prosecutors said that in May 2011, Singh picked up a female passenger who fell asleep while travelling home. According to the Justice Department, he drove her to a secluded location.
The passenger allegedly woke up to find Singh restraining her while holding a knife to her throat. Investigators said he subsequently bound and gagged her, blindfolded her and sexually assaulted her.
She later escaped from the vehicle and sought assistance from a person she encountered on the street.
The Justice Department said Singh did not reveal the incident while applying for naturalisation. He became a US citizen on October 19, 2011, only months after the alleged crime.
Prison Sentence Followed Conviction
Singh was subsequently convicted in New York of Rape in the First Degree and Kidnapping in the Second Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony.
He received a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction.
The federal government later brought a civil case seeking to strip him of the citizenship obtained during the naturalisation process. The Justice Department filed its denaturalisation complaint on February 2, culminating in the court’s August 26 order.
Officials Stress Integrity of Naturalisation System
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the case demonstrates that American citizenship cannot be used as protection from consequences when it was obtained by concealing disqualifying information.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the government would continue taking action against individuals who deceive immigration authorities during the citizenship process.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said the judgment sends a warning to applicants who attempt to secure citizenship through false or incomplete disclosures.
The case was prosecuted by Christopher Lyerla of the Justice Department’s Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation and Assistant US Attorney Layaliza Soloveichik for the Eastern District of New York.
