The US seeks to revoke the citizenship of a former Haitian mayor accused of immigration fraud

Miami (USA).- The United States Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit this Friday seeking to revoke the U.S. citizenship of former North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, born in Haiti, accusing him of having obtained it fraudulently. The Prosecution detailed in a statement that the former president used two identities to obtain immigration benefits after illegally entering the country and subsequently serving as the elected mayor of North Miami, in South Florida.

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The lawsuit alleges that the Haitian, also known as Jean Philippe Janvier, built his citizenship on fraud, using false identities, false statements, and a sham marriage to evade a legal deportation order. Before becoming a U.S. citizen, the defendant used a fraudulent passport with the photo replaced to enter the United States under the name of Jean Philippe Janvier. In 2001, he was subjected to a deportation process and his expulsion was ordered under the identity of Janvier. He appealed the deportation order, but later withdrew the appeal, declaring that he had returned to live in Haiti. However, according to the lawsuit, Bien-Aime remained in the United States and, using the new name and date of birth, married a U.S. citizen to obtain permanent residency. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the fact that he subsequently served as mayor-elect makes the alleged deception even more serious, because the public office entails a duty of frankness. The lawsuit seeks that the court “revoke a status that was never legally obtained”. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason A. Reding Quiñones, stated that U.S. citizenship “is a privilege based on honesty and loyalty to this country.” The event occurs amidst the Donald Trump Administration’s efforts to deport Haitian immigrants, as the Government has ordered the elimination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians to prevent their deportation, although a U.S. judge temporarily halted the measure on February 3rd.