The United States government has filed a civil action seeking to revoke the naturalized citizenship of an Olathe man born in India, alleging that he obtained U.S. citizenship after concealing his previous immigration history and applying under a false identity.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas announced the denaturalization action Monday, August 10, saying the government filed its complaint on August 7 against Harinder Singh, also known as Harinder Singh Sanghera and Rushpal Singh.
The government alleges that Singh unlawfully obtained his naturalization by willfully misrepresenting and concealing material facts during the immigration and naturalization process.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, naturalized citizenship may be revoked and a certificate of naturalization cancelled when citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.
According to the complaint, immigration authorities first encountered the defendant at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1991, when he identified himself as Rushpal Singh.
An immigration judge ordered him deported in August 1995, and that decision was later upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals. The government says, however, that it has no record that Singh ever left the United States pursuant to the exclusion and deportation order.
The case took a different turn the following year.
In June 1996, Singh allegedly submitted an application to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for an immigration benefit using the name Harinder Singh. The government alleges that he also changed his date of birth, date of entry into the United States and the factual basis supporting his application.
The INS approved the application.
In October 2000, Singh was granted adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident under the Harinder Singh identity. Eight years later, he applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship under the same identity and immigration history.
The government alleges that during the naturalization process, Singh failed to disclose his earlier immigration history under the name Rushpal Singh.
The civil action now asks a federal court in Kansas to revoke and set aside the order admitting Singh to U.S. citizenship and to cancel his certificate of naturalization.
The case is part of a broader increase in denaturalization litigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, since January 20, 2025, the Justice Department has filed approximately 123 civil denaturalisation complaints, described by the department as the most in recorded history.
Denaturalization is a civil process through which the government seeks to undo citizenship that it alleges was obtained unlawfully. It is distinct from criminal prosecution, although the underlying conduct alleged in a denaturalization case can potentially have other legal consequences.
The Kansas case also highlights the significance of truthful disclosure throughout the immigration process. The government’s allegations concern not simply the use of another name, but alleged changes to multiple elements of Singh’s immigration history, including his identity, date of birth, date of entry and the basis of his immigration claim.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, however, stressed that the allegations remain unproven.
“The claims made in the complaints are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.”
Singh will therefore have an opportunity to contest the government’s allegations in federal court. The government must establish the legal basis for revoking his naturalized citizenship before the requested relief can be granted.
The action underscores the government’s position that naturalization obtained through material concealment or deliberate misrepresentation can be challenged years after citizenship has been granted.
