The government is able to revoke your citizenship and place you in deportation proceedings if you lied or misrepresented on your application or during your naturalization interview. The Supreme Court of the United States however recently set a higher bar for stripping citizenship. Read on to learn more.
Fraud or Misrepresentation
Fraud or misrepresentation can be a ground of inadmissibility, which would result in an applicant being denied admission into the United States or permanent residency. If the act of fraud or misrepresentation is discovered after an applicant has been approved, the government can still revoke the immigration benefit that was granted, thereby stripping permanent residency or citizenship from an individual who was not truthful.
Minor vs. Material Fraud
In dealing strictly with stripping citizenship from naturalized citizens, the Supreme Court ruled in the Maslenjak case, that the government must establish an illegal act by the defendant somehow played a role in acquiring citizenship. In other words, the false statement must have had a material effect on the government’s decision to grant status.
Are you at risk?
If you have questions about statements made to government officials, or about information you put on an application, give the experienced immigration attorneys at Maniatis Law PLLC a call to discuss your case. All matters are confidential and cannot be shared with the government or anyone else. Call our office or . for a consultation today.