The Department of Justice is taking decisive action to strip a former North Miami mayor of his U.S. citizenship after uncovering an alleged web of immigration fraud spanning over two decades. Philippe Bien-Aime, who served as mayor from 2019 to 2022, stands accused of fundamentally deceiving federal authorities about his identity and immigration history during his naturalization process.
According to NBC News, which first reported the story, federal prosecutors filed a denaturalization case against Bien-Aime in federal court this week. The DOJ alleges that Bien-Aime first entered the United States in 1997 using a fraudulent, “photo-switched” passport under the name Jean Philippe Janvier. When an immigration judge ordered his removal to Haiti in 2000, he claimed to have returned to his home country but allegedly remained in the U.S. illegally under his current identity.
The case gets even more complex. Federal authorities claim Bien-Aime married a U.S. citizen to obtain permanent resident status, but prosecutors allege this marriage was invalid because he was already married to a Haitian citizen. The divorce certificate he presented to immigration authorities was reportedly fraudulent. Department of Homeland Security records, including fingerprint comparisons, confirm that the person who naturalized as Philippe Bien-Aime is the same individual previously ordered removed under the name Philippe Janvier.
This aggressive enforcement action exemplifies the Trump administration’s commitment to holding fraudulent actors accountable and protecting the integrity of American citizenship. As U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones stated, “United States citizenship is a privilege grounded in honesty and allegiance to this country.” If the government succeeds, serious questions will arise about Bien-Aime’s qualifications to have held elected office, since North Miami requires candidates to be qualified electors and U.S. citizens.
While denaturalization cases are complex and time-consuming, this case demonstrates that no one is above the law when it comes to immigration fraud. The Trump administration’s expanded efforts to revoke citizenship from those who obtained it through deception sends a clear message that American citizenship must be earned honestly and maintained with integrity.
Source: nbcnews.com