The Justice Department has revoked the U.S. citizenship of convicted rapist Gurmeet Singh, a former taxi driver, 15 years after he attacked a female passenger, underscoring the government’s push to hold naturalized criminals accountable.
Gurmeet Singh, 55, is no longer a U.S. citizen. That was the message from federal officials on Monday, following a Brooklyn judge’s order stripping Singh of his citizenship after he concealed his 2011 rape and kidnapping conviction during the naturalization process. Singh, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for the brutal attack, must surrender his naturalization certificate and U.S. passport by September 16.
The Justice Department described the case as a clear example of fraud in the immigration system. Singh arrived in the United States from India in 1992 on a temporary visitor visa, became a permanent resident in 2000, and was naturalized on October 19, 2011. But just months before that, in May 2011, he kidnapped and raped a young woman who had hailed his cab in Williamsburg, New York, as she was headed to her East Village apartment. The woman escaped on foot and sought help from a passerby, and Singh was later convicted in 2014 on charges related to the assault.
Federal prosecutors said Singh concealed those crimes during his path to citizenship. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate did not hold back: “Singh unlawfully obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship by concealing horrible criminal acts.” He added, “The Department will continue to protect the integrity of the citizenship process and hold accountable those who defraud our immigration system.”
Attorney General Todd Blanche was equally direct, stating, “American citizenship is not a shield for criminals. Gurmeet Singh, a convicted rapist from India, is no longer a U.S. citizen. He concealed a rape and kidnapping during the naturalization process, and a federal court has now revoked his citizenship.” Blanche emphasized the department’s resolve to pursue similar cases, declaring, “Fraudulently obtained citizenship will not protect criminals from justice.”
Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garaufis issued the order “last week,” giving Singh until September 16 to turn in his naturalization certificate and U.S. passport. Singh is currently incarcerated at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, a maximum-security prison also housing notorious criminals such as David Berkowitz, the so-called “Son of Sam.” He is scheduled for release in February 2029, after which the Department of Homeland Security will determine whether he will be deported.
For the victim, who reportedly delivered a statement through prosecutors at Singh’s sentencing, the revocation of Singh’s citizenship comes after years of waiting for justice to run its course. The official record does not indicate any response from Singh or his representatives to the court’s recent order.
The Singh case highlights a broader effort by federal authorities to crack down on naturalization fraud. The Justice Department has made clear that those who lie or conceal criminal conduct while seeking citizenship will not be allowed to keep their status. Assistant Attorney General Shumate pledged continued action: “The Department will continue to protect the integrity of the citizenship process and hold accountable those who defraud our immigration system.”
Attorney General Blanche reinforced this stance, saying, “This Department took this case across the finish line, and we will continue to move expeditiously on denaturalization referrals.”
Singh’s journey through the U.S. immigration system spanned over three decades. He first entered the country in February 1992 on a six-month visa, then secured permanent residency in June 2000 through a family petition. He became a U.S. citizen in October 2011, months after the assault for which he would later be convicted and imprisoned. The sequence of events raises serious questions about vetting, disclosure, and accountability throughout the naturalization process.
The case of Gurmeet Singh sends a message: American citizenship is a privilege, not a loophole for those who break the law and hide their crimes. Secure borders and honest vetting matter, for public safety, for victims, and for the integrity of the nation itself.
