New York, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The US Department of Justice has initiated legal proceedings to revoke the American citizenship of a 59-year-old Pakistani national accused of obtaining naturalisation through false identities and fraudulent immigration claims, as part of what the Trump administration describes as the largest denaturalisation drive in the country’s history.
According to a complaint filed by the Justice Department, Zia Murad Bhatti illegally entered the United States in 1992 using the name “Raza Moorad” and was subsequently ordered to leave the country. Instead of complying with the order, authorities allege he remained in the US, married an American citizen under the name Zia Murad Bhatti, and later secured US citizenship.
The government has accused Bhatti of perjury, concealing material facts, making wilful misrepresentations and providing false testimony during the immigration and naturalisation process. His case is among 25 citizenship revocation proceedings announced by the Justice Department, although several of the other cases involve individuals accused of more serious offences, including attempted murder and child sexual assault.
In a separate filing, the department has also sought the denaturalisation of 65-year-old Indian national Narinder Singh, alleging that he used two different identities while entering the United States from 1996 onward before becoming a US citizen in 2008. Prosecutors contend that Singh’s repeated misrepresentations and unlawful conduct adversely reflect on the “good moral character” required for naturalisation.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the coordinated legal action marks the largest denaturalisation effort in the department’s history and indicated that additional cases would follow.
The Justice Department also recently moved against another Pakistan-born naturalised citizen, Murtaza Ali, 65, alleging that he used multiple identities to obtain immigration benefits before becoming a US citizen in 2009 under the name “Muhammad Iqbal.” Authorities said fingerprint analysis linked several immigration applications submitted under different identities to the same individual.
The latest legal actions come as President Donald Trump continues to prioritise immigration enforcement and the deportation of illegal migrants and convicted criminals during his second term. The Justice Department said it has filed 123 civil denaturalisation cases since Trump returned to office on January 20 last year, the highest number on record.
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