DOJ Announces First Denaturalization Under Operation Janus

Back on October 3, 2017, we posted a blog about civil denaturalization charges being brought in three cases against individuals who were ordered removed before obtaining legal status and naturalization under different identities [see blog]. The charges came as part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) “Operation Janus,” which investigated approximately 315,000 cases where fingerprint data was missing.

In the original post, we discussed charges against Balinder Singh, also known as Davinder Singh. Singh, a native of India, had been ordered excluded and deported in 1992 under the name Davinder Singh. However, he subsequently filed for asylum under the name Balinder Singh, abandoned his asylum application, and procured lawful permanent resident status through a U.S. citizen wife. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on January 9, 2018, that Judge Stanley R. Chesler of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered an order revoking the naturalized citizenship of Singh and canceling his certificate of naturalization [PDF version]. Accordingly, after his denaturalization, Singh's status reverted back to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and the DHS now has the option of pursuing removal proceedings.

The DOJ statement notes that the USCIS intends to refer approximately 1,600 additional cases for prosecution under Operation Janus. We will update the site with more information about denaturalization proceedings stemming from Operation Janus as it becomes available. To learn more about denaturalization, please see the relevant category on our site [see category].