VOI World/ Desk
An Indian-origin US citizen is among 17 individuals facing proceedings that could lead to the revocation of their American citizenship, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
The case involves Neeraj Sharma, a New Jersey-based staffing company owner, who has been accused of submitting fraudulent H-1B visa petitions and concealing prior criminal conduct during his naturalisation process. US authorities allege that Sharma filed 11 fraudulent H-1B petitions claiming foreign workers would be employed by a global financial institution. Supporting documents submitted with the applications allegedly contained forged signatures of company executives.
According to the DOJ, Sharma applied for US citizenship in 2017 and falsely testified under oath during his naturalisation interview by failing to disclose relevant criminal conduct. He subsequently became a US citizen in December 2017.
Authorities later secured convictions related to visa fraud and misuse of visas for conduct that allegedly occurred between April 2015 and April 2017. Based on those findings, the government has now initiated proceedings to revoke his citizenship.
The move is part of a broader action targeting 17 naturalised US citizens accused of serious offences. Under US law, citizenship obtained through concealment of material facts, fraud or wilful misrepresentation can be revoked through a legal process known as denaturalisation.
US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said American citizenship is a privilege that must be earned honestly and maintained in accordance with the law. He stated that individuals who violate immigration laws or provide false information during immigration proceedings risk losing that privilege.
The case is likely to draw attention within the Indian diaspora, particularly because it involves allegations linked to the H-1B visa system, which remains one of the primary pathways for skilled Indian professionals to work in the United States.
