Release Date 07/22/2026
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) helped the Department of Justice (DOJ) with several recent cases in U.S. district courts to take away citizenship from 10 people. These individuals are accused of serious crimes such as sexual abuse of a child, health care and wire fraud, immigration fraud, and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. The complaints were filed in the last 30 days.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, a person who became a U.S. citizen through naturalization can lose their citizenship and have their certificate of naturalization canceled if they got citizenship illegally or by hiding important information or lying.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, “If you lie or commit fraud when becoming a naturalized citizen, you lose your right to be a U.S. citizen. These criminals—including drug traffickers, pedophiles, and fraudsters—abused our immigration system and harmed real U.S. citizens. The Department of Homeland Security is dedicated to removing these fraudsters using all available tools.”
Summary of Cases:
1. Yoskmaikel Rodriguez Perez (45, Cuba): Became a lawful permanent resident in 2004 and a U.S. citizen in 2018. Before that, he ran a fake medical clinic and made false Medicare claims over $886,000. He hid these crimes and lied under oath during naturalization. He later pleaded guilty to conspiracy for health care and wire fraud.
2. Ceflo Luviano-Mojica (60, Mexico): On July 14, a denaturalization case was filed for hiding his past arrest for carrying a concealed gun and grand theft, served 30 days in jail. In 1998, he pleaded guilty to giving false information when applying for naturalization. He lied under oath about never being arrested or imprisoned.
3. Urbano Vazquez Ortega (53, Mexico): Became a U.S. citizen in 2017. Convicted of multiple counts of second-degree child sexual abuse as a priest in Washington, D.C. Sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2019. The government filed a complaint to revoke his citizenship for crimes before, during, and after naturalization.
4. Murtaza Ali (65, Pakistan): Used several fake names to get immigration benefits and became a citizen in 2009 under the name “Muhammad Iqbal.” After naturalization, fingerprint evidence showed all aliases were the same person. He pleaded guilty in 2014 to making false statements to a U.S. agency.
5. Jimmy Aguero (51, Peru): Sexually abused his minor stepdaughter before becoming a citizen in 2015. Convicted of eight counts of sexual abuse of a minor and sentenced to 10 years in prison. DOJ says he can’t show the good moral character needed to be a citizen.
6. Antonio Alcantara-Ruiz (53, Mexico): Denaturalization filed on June 23 for lying about his identity. Bought false identity documents from another Mexican and used them to get a replacement permanent resident card and support his citizenship application.
7. Omar Cantu-Montalvo (44, Mexico): Entered the U.S. in 1996, became a permanent resident, and applied for citizenship in July 2005, claiming he was never arrested. Naturalized in December 2005. In 2016, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess over five kilograms of cocaine to distribute; this conspiracy started April 2005, just before applying for citizenship. Sentenced to 100 months in prison and five years supervised release.
8. Franscisco Montano (59, Mexico): Came to the U.S. in 1987. Did not tell the truth during his 1997 citizenship application about sexually abusing a child during the five years before naturalization. Convicted in Texas of aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child for crimes during that five-year period.
9. Marcin Stanislaw Garbacz (47, Poland): Former Catholic priest, permanent resident since 2008 and citizen since 2014. Stole about $259,696 from three churches in South Dakota and secretly recorded a 17-year-old showering in Poland. Hid these crimes during naturalization and was convicted of wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and illicit sexual conduct with a minor abroad.
10. Martin Garcia Cardiel (60, Mexico): Complaint filed July 6 in Utah. Admitted in 2000. Said in 2011 citizenship application he had never committed a crime or lied to officials. Naturalized October 2011. Convicted in 2022 in Utah for 19 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, abuse happened in 2007 to two sisters aged 7 and 8. Sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
The DOJ is asking to revoke citizenship for these people because they committed serious crimes and lied during their naturalization interviews. These crimes show they did not have the good moral character needed to become citizens.
Cases were filed in various courts across the country, including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The charges are only allegations. No court decision has been made yet.
If you know of immigration fraud, report it to USCIS using the USCIS Tip Form.
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