Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Indian-Origin Man Faces US Citizenship Loss Over Identity Fraud
A man who came to America long ago might have to give up his American citizenship.
His name is Harinder Singh, and he entered the United States in 1991.
The government says he used a different name and changed important facts about himself.
When he first arrived, he was stopped at JFK International Airport and told he had to leave the country.
Instead of leaving, the authorities say he later asked to stay using another name.
He became an official American citizen in 2008.
But the government says he did not tell the truth about his past when he applied.
Now officials are trying to take away his citizenship because they say he tricked them.
Taking away someone's citizenship is called denaturalisation, and the government says it has started many such cases recently.
Harinder Singh, an Indian-origin resident of Olathe, Kansas, faces denaturalisation after authorities accused him of obtaining US citizenship under a false identity.
The US Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas announced on August 7, 2026, that it filed a civil lawsuit against Singh, also known as Harinder Singh Sanghera and Rushpal Singh.
Singh was stopped by the INS at JFK International Airport in 1991 as Rushpal Singh, was ordered deported in 1995, but the government says it has no record he ever left the US.
He allegedly used the name Harinder Singh in a June 1996 immigration application, became a lawful permanent resident by 2000 and a naturalised US citizen in 2008 without disclosing his earlier history.
The Justice Department says it has filed approximately 123 civil denaturalisation complaints since January 20, 2025, the highest in recorded history, and another Indian-origin man, Debashis Ghosh of Cook County, Illinois, faces similar proceedings.
- Who
- Harinder Singh (also known as Harinder Singh Sanghera and Rushpal Singh), an Indian-origin resident of Olathe, Kansas; the US government is acting against him, and Debashis Ghosh of Cook County, Illinois, faces similar proceedings.
- What
- The US government filed a civil lawsuit seeking to revoke and set aside the order admitting Singh to US citizenship and cancel his certificate of naturalisation over alleged identity fraud.
- When
- The lawsuit was announced on August 7, 2026; Singh entered the US in 1991, was ordered deported in 1995, applied for an immigration benefit in June 1996, became a lawful permanent resident by 2000 and was naturalised in 2008.
- Where
- The case was filed by the US Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas; Singh was initially stopped at JFK International Airport.
- Why
- Because authorities allege Singh misrepresented and concealed material facts, including changing his date of birth, date of entry and the basis of his immigration claim, and failing to disclose his earlier immigration history under a different name.
- Lawsuit
- Civil action to revoke citizenship and cancel certificate of naturalisation
- Filed by
- US Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas
- Date announced
- August 7, 2026
- Year of entry into US
- 1991
- Year of naturalisation
- 2008
- Aliases used
- Rushpal Singh, Harinder Singh Sanghera
- Residence
- Olathe, Kansas
- Denaturalisation complaints since January 20, 2025
- Approximately 123
