The Justice Department filed a civil complaint on Friday to revoke the citizenship of a California man who sexually abused children prior to naturalization.
Erwin Galindo concealed his crimes throughout the naturalization process.
Federal prosecutors say Galindo’s heinous acts and deception warrant stripping his 2015 naturalization.
Galindo sexually abused an 11-year-old child and raped a 14-year-old, according to court documents. After becoming a citizen, California courts convicted him of two counts of lewd acts upon a child.
He received an eight-year, eight-month prison sentence. The Justice Department cited federal statute 8 U.S.C. § 1451 in seeking revocation.
“This Department of Justice will continue to strip citizenship from those who commit heinous crimes and conceal them during the naturalization process,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “American citizenship is a great and sacred privilege that must be earned honestly.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate emphasized the administration’s stance on citizenship fraud.
“A monster who commits horrific acts of sexual abuse against children should not ever have become a U.S. citizen,” Shumate said. “This Administration will not hesitate to take his citizenship back.”
The Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation is prosecuting the civil case. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit assisted in building the case against Galindo.
