Indian-Origin Man Could Lose US Citizenship After Authorities Allegedly Uncover Identity Fraud

United States : An Indian-born man who has lived in the United States for more than three decades could lose his American citizenship after the US government accused him of obtaining immigration benefits and eventually naturalising under a false identity.

The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas has filed a civil denaturalisation case against Harinder Singh, also known as Harinder Singh Sanghera and Rushpal Singh. The government alleges that Singh concealed important details about his earlier immigration history and provided false information to US authorities.

The case was filed on August 7 and could result in the cancellation of Singh’s naturalisation certificate if the government’s allegations are established in court.

He allegedly entered the US under another identity

According to the US Justice Department, Singh first came to the attention of immigration authorities in 1991 when he was stopped at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

At the time, officials say he identified himself as Rushpal Singh.

The government alleges that immigration authorities later ordered him to be deported in 1995. However, officials say they have no record showing that he actually left the United States under that order.

Instead, the government claims that Singh remained in the country and later began using a different identity.

Application made under the name Harinder Singh

In June 1996, Singh allegedly submitted an immigration application using the name Harinder Singh.

Authorities say the application also contained different information about his date of birth, date of entry into the United States and the basis of his immigration claim.

The application was approved by the then-Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

By 2000, Singh had obtained lawful permanent resident status under the identity Harinder Singh. Eight years later, in 2008, he became a naturalised US citizen using the same name.

The Justice Department alleges that he never disclosed his previous immigration history under the name Rushpal Singh.

Government seeks to cancel his citizenship

The US government is now asking a federal court to revoke Singh’s naturalisation and cancel his certificate of citizenship.

The government’s case is based on the allegation that Singh obtained his immigration status and citizenship by concealing important information and providing false details to authorities.

Denaturalisation is a civil legal process through which the US government can seek to take away citizenship that was allegedly obtained unlawfully or through fraud or significant misrepresentation.

Importantly, the allegations have been filed as part of a civil case and still have to be established through the legal process.

Justice Department says denaturalisation cases have increased

The Justice Department said the government has filed a significant number of denaturalisation cases since January 20, 2025.

According to the department, approximately 123 civil denaturalisation complaints had been filed by the time of the announcement, which it described as the highest number in recorded history.

The cases have drawn attention because citizenship is generally considered one of the most secure forms of immigration status in the United States. However, US law allows the government to challenge naturalisation if it believes citizenship was obtained through fraud, concealment or other serious violations.

Another Indian-origin US citizen faces a similar case

Singh is not the only Indian-origin naturalised US citizen facing such proceedings.

Another man, Debashis Ghosh, has also faced denaturalisation proceedings. Ghosh, whose last known residence was in Cook County, Illinois, reportedly entered the United States several times on non-immigrant visas beginning as early as 1991.

He later became a US citizen in 2012.

Ghosh was among a group of individuals against whom the Justice Department announced denaturalisation actions in various federal courts.

A case spanning more than 30 years

Singh’s case highlights how immigration records and identities can follow a person decades after their initial entry into the United States.

According to the government, he entered the country in 1991 under one identity, faced a deportation order several years later and subsequently obtained permanent residency and citizenship under another identity.

More than three decades after his first encounter with US immigration officials, the government is now asking a federal court to review how he obtained his citizenship.

If the court ultimately rules in favour of the government, Singh could lose his naturalised US citizenship and face further immigration consequences.

For now, however, the case remains a legal proceeding, and the allegations against him have not been finally determined by the court.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.