US to strip Indian origin CEO Neeraj Sharma of citizenship: What was his fraud?
During his naturalisation interview, Neeraj had also lied about his past criminal conduct.He became a US citizen in December 2017 but was later convicted of fraud and misuse of visas.The letters submitted by Neeraj Sharma as supporting documents for H-1B petitions carried fake signatures of executives of the global financial institution, the justice department said. According to the charges filed against him, Neeraj Sharma “signed and filed eleven fraudulent H-1B visa petitions with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).”Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSNeeraj Sharma is accused of signing and filing 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions, using fake signatures from executives of a global financial institution and making false employment claims for visa beneficiaries.Neeraj Sharma is facing denaturalization because he allegedly illegally procured his citizenship by failing to disclose his past criminal conduct, providing false testimony, and misrepresenting material facts during his naturalization process.Neeraj Sharma became a US citizen after his application was approved by USCIS, which was based on the false assertions he made about his criminal history and the fraudulent H-1B visa petitions he filed.Illegally procuring US citizenship can lead to denaturalization and revocation of citizenship, as stipulated under the Immigration and Nationality Act, if the naturalization was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.The US Justice Department emphasizes that American citizenship is a privilege that must be earned honestly, and that individuals who break laws and lie in their immigration proceedings forfeit that privilege.The department said that each petition that Neeraj Sharma filed included “false representations that the visa beneficiaries would be employed with a particular global financial institution, and also included letters on official corporate letterhead with forged signatures of the executives.”Neeraj Sharma, the charges read, also “falsely asserted that he had never committed a crime or crime for which he was not arrested.” He also emphasised he had never “given any US Government officials any information or documentation that was false or misleading, and lied to any US government official to gain immigration benefits.”As these assertions were filed by him, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved his application and he became a US citizen.During verification, the department found that Neeraj Sharma had falsely made these assertions, and filed for denaturalisation actions.“The United States seeks to revoke Defendant’s naturalization, pursuant to 8 USC § 1451(a), as an alien who illegally procured his naturalization by: (1) failing to disclose unlawful acts; (2) providing false testimony; and (3) concealment of a material fact and willful misrepresentation,” it said.“American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly. If you come here break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, “a naturalized US citizen’s citizenship may be revoked, and certificate of naturalization canceled, if the naturalization was illegally procured or procured by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.”Along with Neeraj Sharma, proceedings to revoke citizens have been initiated against 16 more persons who are accused of serious offences.(With agency inputs)About the AuthorLivemintFor about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geo
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