January 1, Trump Pushes To Strip Citizenship From Somali Fraudsters

Wyatt’s Take

• Trump wants tougher action against naturalized Somali criminals.
• Denaturalizing citizens for post-naturalization crimes is a slow process.
• GOP lawmakers are seeking legislative changes to make citizenship revocation easier.

President Trump is calling for a bigger push to revoke citizenship from Somali Americans involved in serious crimes. The process is complicated by current laws and has been rare in past years.

Federal agents have recently arrested Somali migrants linked to major offenses, but most efforts target those without U.S. citizenship. Going after those who already became citizens faces hurdles, as laws don’t make removal easy after someone receives citizenship.

Immigration lawyer Matthew Kolken explained,

“If the review of an applicant for naturalization’s alien registration file results in the discovery of some material misrepresentation committed in furtherance of obtaining an immigration law benefit that wasn’t previously discovered, the failure to disclose the fraud on the naturalization application can result in not only criminal prosecution, but denaturalization and removal from the country.”

Taking away citizenship is rare. From 1990 to 2017, only 305 denaturalization cases were brought nationwide, averaging just 11 per year, and not all led to loss of citizenship. The Trump administration has not released updated numbers since his return to office.

Over 100,000 Somalis live in Minnesota, with most concentrated in the Twin Cities. Of the Somali-born population in the state, nearly all are now U.S. citizens.

The Department of Homeland Security is sending more agents into Minneapolis amid the nation’s largest Somali community. Officers are arresting illegal immigrants, but Trump says he wants to go further and target those who became citizens.

He stated,

“I would do it in a heartbeat if they were dishonest. I think that many of the people that came in from Somalia, they hate our country.”

The White House confirmed it is not hesitant to denaturalize Somali-born Americans convicted of fraud. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said,

“Absolutely. And it’s something the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State is currently looking at right now. It’s something this administration has already done.”

Public anger in Minnesota grew after prosecutors accused criminal groups of stealing $9 billion meant to help children and poor families. Ninety-eight people are charged, 85 of Somali descent. Alleged fraud also spilled into daycare scams raking in taxpayer money.

USCIS says citizenship can be revoked for hiding past crimes, belonging to terrorist or Communist groups within five years of becoming a citizen, or for fraud during application. Former military members who left under dishonorable conditions can also face removal.

The administration ordered more cases sent forward, with USCIS aiming to hand over up to 200 per month. This marks a big uptick from past years.

USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser explained,

“Under U.S. law, those who procure citizenship on a fraudulent basis are subject to denaturalization. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services pursues denaturalization against any naturalized citizen found to have obtained citizenship through fraud, regardless of nationality.”

He added,

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Justice to protect the American people from those who attempt to defraud them.”

Congressional Republicans want laws changed so even those who commit crimes after naturalization can lose citizenship. Minnesota’s Tom Emmer says those involved in fraud must be stripped of their citizen rights and wants Congress to make it possible.

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Wyatt Matters

Citizenship comes with responsibility, and Americans deserve protection from fraud and abuse. Middle America expects laws to be enforced fairly, no matter where someone comes from.