NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C., April 24, 2026: A federal judge on April 13 revoked the U.S. citizenship of Gurdev Singh Sohal, ruling that he had illegally obtained naturalization by concealing his true identity and immigration history.
Court records show that Sohal, who also used the names Dev Singh and Boota Singh Sundu, had been ordered deported in 1994 under a different identity. Instead of leaving the country, he remained in the United States and later assumed a new identity, using altered personal details to apply for immigration benefits.
Under this new identity, Sohal successfully obtained U.S. citizenship in 2005. However, he did not disclose his prior deportation order or his earlier identity in his application, information that would have disqualified him from naturalization.
The fraud came to light decades later through a federal fingerprint analysis initiative that matches historical immigration records with modern biometric data. In 2020, authorities determined that fingerprints associated with Sohal’s different identities belonged to the same individual, prompting legal action.
The case was pursued by the U.S. Department of Justice, which argued that Sohal had “illegally procured” his citizenship by willfully misrepresenting material facts. The court agreed, finding that he failed to meet the legal requirement of demonstrating “good moral character,” a key condition for naturalization.
Federal officials said the ruling underscores the government’s efforts to safeguard the integrity of the immigration system. Denaturalization cases, while relatively rare, have increased in recent years as authorities revisit older records using improved technology.
With his citizenship now revoked, Sohal may face further immigration proceedings, including the possibility of deportation.
The case highlights how long-past immigration violations can resurface, particularly as federal agencies expand efforts to digitize and cross-check historical records against current databases.
The Trump administration has filed around 384 denaturalization cases, according to the New York Times.
