The United States Department of Justice revealed on Monday that it has initiated denaturalization proceedings against ten naturalized citizens, including 45-year-old Cuban national Yoskmaikel Rodriguez Perez. He stands accused of defrauding the Medicare program of over $886,000 through a sham medical clinic.
Rodriguez Perez was granted permanent residency in 2004 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. Throughout this process, he allegedly concealed his involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme and provided false testimony under oath to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer.
On June 18, 2026, the government filed a four-count lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida to revoke his citizenship. The complaint claims he unlawfully obtained citizenship by lacking the good moral character required by law and by hiding material facts during the naturalization process.
Having pleaded guilty, Rodriguez Perez was convicted of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud.
Government's Stance on Fraudulent Citizenship
Acting Assistant Attorney General Todd Blanche described the individuals targeted as "criminal aliens who lied to gain U.S. citizenship," emphasizing that the Justice Department will continue to "aggressively pursue denaturalization to restore the integrity of the naturalization process."
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was more emphatic: "When you commit fraud during the naturalization process, you forfeit your right to retain U.S. citizenship."
Broader Context of Denaturalization Efforts
Rodriguez Perez's case is not unique. In March 2026, a federal court in Miami stripped the citizenship of Mirelys Cabrera Díaz, a Hialeah resident sentenced in 2019 to 29 months in prison for participating in a Medicare fraud exceeding six million dollars.
In June, the Justice Department initiated denaturalization actions against 17 immigrants, including two Cuban women: Leidys Delmas Garcia, 54, and Milagros Marileisis Acosta Torres, 40, both convicted of healthcare system fraud.
Cuba is among 19 countries labeled as "high risk" and subject to massive naturalization reviews since December 2025, alongside Venezuela, Somalia, and Haiti.
This campaign was formalized through a June 11, 2025, memorandum signed by Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, directing the Civil Division of the Justice Department to prioritize these proceedings. The denaturalization policy, bolstered by the Trump administration, relies on the Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits citizenship revocation if obtained through concealment of facts or false statements under oath.
Unlike criminal proceedings, civil denaturalization processes do not guarantee the right to an attorney and require a lower burden of proof, making them swifter for the government to execute.
Future of Denaturalization Cases
The Justice Department plans to initiate at least 250 denaturalization cases by October 2026. Shumate was forthright: "We've only scratched the surface; many more lawsuits are on the horizon."
Understanding the Denaturalization Process
What is the denaturalization process?
Denaturalization is a civil process where the U.S. government revokes citizenship from individuals who obtained it through fraud or misrepresentation.
How does denaturalization differ from criminal proceedings?
Denaturalization does not guarantee the right to an attorney and has a lower burden of proof compared to criminal cases, making the process quicker for the government.
Why is Cuba considered a "high risk" country for naturalization reviews?
Cuba, along with other countries like Venezuela and Somalia, has been labeled "high risk" due to concerns over fraudulent activities in the naturalization process.