The Strange Case of ‘Number 8’ on DOJ’s Latest Denaturalization List
Why did DOJ wait to denaturalize a man who was convicted of immigration-related crimes in 2021?
By Andrew R. Arthur on June 11, 2026
The Department of Justice issued a press release this week captioned “Justice Department Moves to Strip U.S. Citizenship from 17 Naturalized Sex Offenders, Fraudsters, Drug Dealers, and More”. It included descriptions of the dozen plus five erstwhile aliens who had gained U.S. citizenship despite having engaged in alleged unsavory activity. Number 8, “Neeraj Sharma (Age 50/India)” stands out, because according to DOJ’s complaint in his case, he pled guilty to immigration-related fraud five-plus years ago — for conduct that predated his naturalization — but had retained his U.S. citizenship, nonetheless.
The Facts Alleged in U.S. v. Sharma
The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) filed that complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (D. N.J.) on June 4, seeking to revoke Sharma’s naturalization, and to date the case has not yet commenced.
Consequently, like all naturalized citizens who have not received a final denaturalization judgment, he is entitled to a presumption of innocence, and the facts as set forth in the complaint are nothing more than allegations. With that caveat, here are the alleged facts that underpin the government’s case.
Sharma is a native of India and was a national of that country when he became a lawful permanent resident (LPR), i.e., obtained a “green card”, in February 2012.
https://cis.org/Arthur/Strange-Case-Number-8-DOJs-Latest-Denaturalization-List
