- The US Department of Justice announced on August 31, 2026 that Gurmeet Singh, a 55-year-old Indian-origin taxi driver, had his US citizenship revoked after a federal court found he concealed a rape and kidnapping during the naturalization process. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated: “American citizenship is not a shield for criminals.”
- Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said: “Singh unlawfully obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship by concealing horrible criminal acts.” He added that the Department will continue to protect the integrity of the citizenship process and hold accountable those who defraud the immigration system.
Gurmeet Singh, a 55-year-old Indian-origin taxi driver, has had his U.S. citizenship revoked after a federal court determined he concealed serious criminal offenses during his naturalization process. Singh was convicted in 2014 for abducting and raping a female passenger at knifepoint in New York in 2011, receiving a 20-year prison sentence.12
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Singh unlawfully obtained citizenship by hiding his criminal history. “Singh unlawfully obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship by concealing horrible criminal acts,” stated Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate. The Department emphasized its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the citizenship process and holding accountable those who defraud the immigration system.3
Singh entered the U.S. in February 1992 as a visitor but overstayed his visa. He later became a permanent resident in June 2000 through a family-based immigrant visa petition. The Justice Department's statement highlighted that “American citizenship is not a shield for criminals.” This case underscores the government's ongoing efforts to address fraudulent citizenship claims and ensure that justice is served for victims of crime.
The Department of Justice has pledged to continue pursuing denaturalization referrals to prevent criminals from exploiting the citizenship process.
“Attorney General Todd Blanche said 'American citizenship is not a shield for criminals,' while Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate vowed to protect the integrity of the citizenship process. The Justice Department said it will continue to move expeditiously on denaturalization referrals.”
