US Court Revokes Citizenship Of Indian Origin Convict Gurmeet Singh For Rape

In a significant legal development, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered the revocation of the naturalized citizenship of Gurmeet Singh, a man of Indian origin. This decision comes after it was established that Singh had concealed his involvement in a brutal rape and kidnapping case during his naturalization process. Gurmeet Singh, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence, has been stripped of his status as an American citizen, marking a stern stance by the US justice system against those who obtain citizenship through fraudulent means.

Background and Immigration History

The history of Gurmeet Singh in the United States dates back to February 1992. Originally from India, Singh entered the country as a visitor for a period intended to be less than six months, while however, following the expiration of his visitor status, he continued to reside in the United States without legal authorization for several years. His status eventually changed in June 2000, when he was granted permanent resident status through a family-based immigrant visa application. This transition allowed him to live and work in the US legally, eventually leading him to apply for full citizenship.

The Criminal Act and Concealment

The core of the case against Singh involves a horrific incident that occurred in May 2011, just weeks before he was scheduled to apply for US citizenship. At that time, Singh was working as a taxi driver. During one of his shifts, he was transporting a female passenger who fell asleep while on her way home, while when the passenger woke up, she found herself in a nightmare. Singh was on top of her, holding a knife to her neck. He proceeded to threaten her, tie her up, gag her, and blindfold her, while he then forcibly removed her clothing and raped her. Following the assault, the victim managed to escape from the taxi and sought help from a passerby in the early morning hours.

Fraudulent Naturalization

Despite having committed these heinous crimes, Gurmeet Singh proceeded with his application for US citizenship, while during the naturalization process, he deliberately concealed his criminal actions from the immigration authorities. Because the authorities were unaware of the rape and kidnapping at the time, his application was approved, and he was granted US citizenship in October 2011. It was only later that the full extent of his crimes came to light, leading to his criminal conviction and the subsequent civil action to revoke his citizenship.

Legal Consequences and Official Statements

Following the discovery of his crimes, Singh was prosecuted in New York and found guilty of First Degree Rape and Second Degree Kidnapping, which was classified as a serious offense committed with sexual intent, while he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The order to revoke his citizenship, issued on August 26, was the result of a complaint filed by the Department of Justice. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Gurmeet Singh, a native of India and a convicted rapist, is no longer a US citizen. He emphasized that Singh had hidden the facts of rape and kidnapping during the naturalization process and that US citizenship isn't a shield for criminals. Blanche added that citizenship obtained through fraud wouldn't protect criminals from punishment.

Strong Message from the Justice Department

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department's Civil Division noted that Gurmeet Singh had unlawfully obtained the benefits of US citizenship by hiding his terrible criminal acts. US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. of the Eastern District of New York remarked that the court's decision, which requires the accused to surrender his wrongly obtained citizenship, sends a strong message to those who seek citizenship through deception. He further stated that this action demonstrates the administration's resolve to pursue denaturalization in all cases where the law allows and where evidence of fraud exists, while the revocation serves as a reminder that the privileges of American citizenship are reserved for those who follow the law and maintain the required moral character.