Two Cuban-Born Women Face Loss of U.S. Citizenship Over Fraud Convictions
Federal authorities are attempting to denaturalize two women originally from Cuba after they were found guilty of financial crimes and allegedly lied during their immigration interviews.
Two Cuban-Born Women Face Loss of U.S. Citizenship Over Fraud Convictions
Federal prosecutors have initiated legal action to remove citizenship from two women born in Cuba, adding them to a group of 17 individuals targeted for denaturalization due to serious criminal backgrounds. The broader crackdown encompasses offenses ranging from child sexual abuse to narcotics distribution and various forms of financial deception.
Leidys Delmas García, aged 54, and Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres, 40, each face separate legal battles. García was convicted of running a healthcare billing scam, whereas Acosta Torres participated in a plot against a tribal gaming establishment in the Sunshine State.
Court documents reveal that García acknowledged operating three dozen physical therapy facilities throughout Florida alongside associates. These businesses submitted inflated or fabricated claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield, seeking nearly thirty-seven million dollars for treatments patients either did not need or never received.
When applying to become a citizen, García reportedly took an oath declaring she had never broken laws without being detained and had always supplied truthful details to immigration officers. Prosecutors contend both statements were untruthful, prompting them to ask a court to cancel her naturalization.
Acosta Torres's husband and accomplices allegedly siphoned millions from a tribal casino by generating counterfeit credit slips. Following the theft, she allegedly moved the stolen funds through multiple accounts to disguise where the money came from and sidestep mandatory disclosure rules.
Like García, Acosta Torres is accused of falsely denying any unreported criminal activity during her citizenship interview. Officials argue she engaged in wrongdoing during the timeframe when applicants must prove upright character, damaging her credibility and providing deceptive sworn statements about her past.
The current administration's top law-enforcement officials have emphasized strict enforcement. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche warned that immigrants who violate statutes while pursuing citizenship will face repercussions. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin echoed this stance, calling American nationality an honor that disappears for those who commit offenses and deceive authorities.
These women follow other Cuban nationals who have encountered comparable denaturalization efforts, potentially culminating in removal from the country once judges sign off. Some offenders have already been returned to Cuba; others, rejected by Havana, wound up in detention centers on another continent.
The disclosure arrives as debate intensifies regarding Cuban immigrants stateside, including family members connected to officials in Havana. Separate reports suggest diplomatic channels may be weighing the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Cubans who entered during prior presidential terms.
Source: Diario de Cuba
Source: Google News CU — Crime