DOJ Files 12 Denaturalization Cases for Hidden Crimes

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it has filed civil denaturalization cases against 12 naturalized American citizens accused of concealing serious criminal conduct or misrepresenting facts during their naturalization processes. The cases, lodged in federal courts across states including Florida, California, Arizona, Illinois and others, target individuals originally from countries such as Colombia, Nigeria, Morocco, Somalia, India, Gambia, Uzbekistan, Iraq and China.

Federal officials allege the defendants hid offenses that would have disqualified them from citizenship, including providing material support to terrorist groups like al Qaeda and al-Shabaab, committing war crimes, sexually abusing minors, spying for foreign governments, investment fraud and using false identities. To succeed, prosecutors must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the individuals willfully concealed material facts reflecting poor moral character or disqualifying conduct.

Among the cases is that of Victor Manuel Rocha, a 75-year-old Colombian native who became a U.S. citizen in 1978. Authorities say Rocha spied for Cuban intelligence starting in 1973, later serving as a...