{"id":2601043,"date":"2026-05-11T04:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-begins-denaturalization-process-against-12-people-accused-of-serious-offenses\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T04:22:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:22:26","slug":"doj-begins-denaturalization-process-against-12-people-accused-of-serious-offenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-begins-denaturalization-process-against-12-people-accused-of-serious-offenses\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ begins denaturalization process against 12 people accused of \u2018serious offenses\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-begins-denaturalization-process-against-12-people-accused-of-serious-offenses%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2601043&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S.Department of justice announced it is pursuing denaturalization of 12 people accused of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-fbi-spy-hunter-jailed-for-hiding-money-he-received-from-albanian-intelligence\/\" title=\"Former FBI spy hunter sentenced to prison for concealing funds from Albanian intelligence\">concealing material facts<\/a> during their naturalization proceedings. The cases involve alleged nondisclosure or misrepresentation tied to serious crimes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/big-spike-in-migrant-numbers-crossing-darien-gap-from-2021-figures-unhcr\/\" title=\"Big spike in migrant numbers crossing Darien Gap from 2021 figures -UNHCR\">including sexual abuse<\/a>, terrorist activity and support, and war-crimes allegations.  <\/p>\n<p>DOJ officials said naturalized citizenship can be revoked and certificates canceled when citizenship was obtained through illegal means, concealment of material facts, or willful misrepresentation. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that people convicted of \u201cheinous crimes\u201d or who allegedly supported terrorism should never have become citizens if they had been truthful.  <\/p>\n<p>Among those named are Oscar Alberto Pelaez, a Colombian priest convicted of sexual assault of a child; Khalid Ouazzani, accused of plotting attacks and funding Al-Qaeda; and Salah Osman Ahmed, accused of joining al-Shabaab after naturalization. The DOJ also <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >cited cases involving individuals<\/a> who entered and naturalized in the U.S. using false identities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Department of Justice<\/a> announced on Friday efforts to denaturalize 12 individuals in the United States who are accused of misrepresenting their backgrounds during immigration proceedings. Among the 12 the DOJ is seeking to denaturalize are a man convicted of sexual assault against a child, committing terrorist activities while a member of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/al-qaeda\/\">Al-Qaeda<\/a>, financing Al-Qaeda, and supporting global terrorists, among other charges and accusations. Each of the 12 is accused of concealing this information during their individual naturalization proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnder the Immigration and Nationality Act, a naturalized U.S. citizen\u2019s 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,\u201d read a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-moves-denaturalize-12-individuals-concealing-terrorist-support-war-crimes\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">release<\/a> issued by the DOJ.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4562463\/us-passenger-aboard-mv-hondius-cruise-ship-tests-positive-for-hantavirus\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>US passenger aboard MV Hondius cruise ship tests positive for hantavirus<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4562449\/don-lemon-teasing-2028-run\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Don Lemon continues teasing 2028 presidental run: \u2018Why not?\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4553053\/june-social-security-direct-payment-22-days-2\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>June Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in 22 days<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said individuals convicted and involved in such \u201cheinous crimes\u201d should not have been naturalized, and would not have been, if they were honest with their background information.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>\u201cIndividuals implicated in committing fraud, heinous crimes such as sexual abuse, or expressing support for terrorism should never have been naturalized as United States citizens,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-moves-denaturalize-12-individuals-concealing-terrorist-support-war-crimes\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Blanche. \u201cThe Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system. Those who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Among those whom the DOJ <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-moves-denaturalize-12-individuals-concealing-terrorist-support-war-crimes\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seeks<\/a> to denaturalize for their past crimes and dishonesty during the naturalization proceedings are Oscar Alberto Pelaez, a Catholic priest from Colombia, who \u201csexually abused a child on multiple occasions from the time that child was 14 until he was 17 years old.\u201d Pelaez was convicted on 13 counts of sexual assault against a child in 2002. <\/p>\n<p>There was also Khalid Ouazzani, a Moroccan native who was naturalized in 2006 but allegedly planned with others to bomb the New York Stock Exchange. After becoming an official U.S. citizen, he allegedly sent tens of thousands of dollars to terrorist organizations and swore his allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2008. There is also <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-moves-denaturalize-12-individuals-concealing-terrorist-support-war-crimes\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Salah Osman Ahmed<\/a>, who, after being naturalized in 2007, \u201cjoined the terrorist group al-Shabaab.\u201d He pleaded guilty to \u201cproviding material support to terrorists\u201d in July 2009, said the DOJ.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4560644\/doj-seeks-strip-ex-ambassador-citizenship-cuba-spying\/\"><strong>DOJ SEEKS TO STRIP EX-AMBASSADOR OF CITIZENSHIP OVER CUBA SPYING SCHEME<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pin He and George Oyakhire, who were from China and Nigeria, respectively, immigrated to the U.S. and became naturalized citizens while assuming false identities, said the Justice Department. Pin\u2019s legal name is Chun Di He, and he was originally \u201cordered to be removed\u201d under that name in 1992. Meanwhile, Oyakhire arrived in the U.S. in 1988 under his legal name. In 1988, he obtained temporary resident status using the identity Oliver Bennett Oyakhire, according to the Justice Department. By 1996, he had been approved for naturalization under that false name. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis Department of Justice continues to file denaturalization actions at record speeds to restore integrity in our naturalization process,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-moves-denaturalize-12-individuals-concealing-terrorist-support-war-crimes\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Brett A. Shumate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-antrim-co-forensic-report-bombshell-reveals-dominion-machines-were-set-at-68-05-error-ratemeaning-68-05-of-ballots-could-be-sent-out-for-mass-adjudication-giving-individuals-or-ma\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Antrim Co. Forensic Report BOMBSHELL Reveals Dominion Machines Were Set At 68.05% Error Rate\u2026Meaning 68.05% Of Ballots Could Be Sent Out For Mass Adjudication, Giving ... Or Machines Ability To Change 68.05% Of Votes\">assistant attorney general<\/a> of the Justice Department\u2019s Civil Division. \u201cThe disturbing criminal histories confirm these individuals should have never received the privilege of U.S. citizenship.\u00a0 We remain committed to leveraging every tool available under the law to pursue those who obtain their U.S. citizenship unlawfully.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ seeks to denaturalize 12 for misrepresented backgrounds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2601044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26124596569167.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[58155,7076,3813],"class_list":["post-2601043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-denaturalization","tag-doj","tag-immigration"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26124596569167.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601043"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601043\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601047,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601043\/revisions\/2601047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2601044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}