U.S. Officials Filed Actions to Revoke Citizenship
Federal prosecutors initiated legal steps to strip naturalized status from four men for alleged fraud.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The U.S. Attorney's Office launched civil denaturalization actions between June and August 2026 against four men accused of obtaining citizenship through misrepresentation. Authorities utilized fingerprint comparisons to identify individuals who allegedly concealed prior deportation orders.
Why it matters
Federal authorities allege these individuals secured U.S. citizenship by failing to disclose legal history and identity changes on their applications. The government maintains that such fraud undermines the integrity of the naturalization process.
One defendant, 42-year-old Sha Bahadur Ghaley, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for naturalization fraud. Ghaley previously pleaded guilty to three counts of Taking Indecent Liberties with a Child in 2024.
The players
U.S. Attorney's Office
This federal agency is responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases and civil litigation brought by the United States.
Sha Bahadur Ghaley
He is a naturalized citizen currently facing fraud charges who previously pleaded guilty to sexual offenses.
Benjamin Hernandez
He is one of the defendants named in the federal citizenship revocation filings.
Han Xiong Chen
He is an Asheville resident named in the government's civil action regarding his naturalization status.
Kevin Yun-Sang Kim
He is a defendant in the federal effort to revoke citizenship based on past immigration history.
The details
Prosecutors claim that defendants like Benjamin Hernandez, Han Xiong Chen, and Kevin Yun-Sang Kim misrepresented their identities to bypass previous deportation orders. Officials used advanced biometric fingerprint matching to link current naturalized citizens to their prior documented records.
Timeline
1996: Han Xiong Chen and Kevin Yun-Sang Kim entered the U.S.
1999: Benjamin Hernandez was deported and Han Xiong Chen entered the country.
2010-2014: Sha Bahadur Ghaley committed sexual crimes against a child.
July 2018: Sha Bahadur Ghaley was granted U.S. citizenship.
June-August 2026: The U.S. Attorney filed civil denaturalization actions.
Legal Context
These actions follow a pattern set by the Immigration and Nationality Act's denaturalization provisions, which allow the government to revoke citizenship obtained through material misrepresentation. Courts in this jurisdiction continue to process cases where naturalization is challenged due to historical fraud.
These legal actions serve as a formal notice that federal authorities are actively investigating and prosecuting identity-based fraud in the immigration system. Local residents may see continued federal activity as courts process the pending civil and criminal cases.
The takeaway
The government's use of biometric fingerprinting demonstrates that past immigration records remain accessible for modern background verification. Individuals who misrepresented their history on citizenship applications may face long-term legal jeopardy even years after naturalization.
Further reading
Learn more about local oversight in Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Myfox8.
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Should the government revoke U.S. citizenship for naturalized residents who committed fraud to enter?
