The United States on Monday revoked the citizenship of India-born taxi driver Gurmeet Singh, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman at knifepoint in 2011, according to a release issued by the US Department of Justice.
Court Cancels Citizenship of Convicted Rapist
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has ordered the cancellation of the citizenship of Singh, who was previously convicted of rape. This decision marks a significant enforcement of denaturalisation laws, which allow for the revocation of citizenship under specific circumstances.
Denaturalisation typically occurs when a federal court determines that an individual has either deceived authorities during the citizenship application process or has been convicted of serious crimes. The process is complex and requires judicial oversight, emphasizing the seriousness of the legal implications for those involved.
The survivor later managed to escape from the taxi and, at dawn, approached a person on the street for help. Gurmeet Singh entered the United States in February 1992 on a temporary visa for a stay of no more than six months. However, he remained in the country without authorisation for several years before obtaining permanent residency in June 2000 through a family-based immigrant visa petition.
“American citizenship is not a shield for criminals…He concealed a rape and kidnapping during the naturalization process, and a federal court has now revoked his citizenship,” he said.
