Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
A Sikh-origin taxi driver from Punjab has been stripped of his United States citizenship after authorities determined that he concealed serious criminal offenses during the naturalization process. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced legal action against Gurmeet Singh, 55, on August 31.
Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ordered the revocation of Singh’s citizenship and directed him to surrender his citizenship certificate and U.S. passport by September 16.
Singh is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York after being convicted in connection with the kidnapping and rape of a female passenger in 2011.
Responding to the court’s decision, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that American citizenship is not a shield for criminals. He said Singh had concealed his involvement in rape and kidnapping offenses while applying for citizenship, adding that citizenship obtained through fraud cannot protect offenders from accountability.
According to court records, the crime took place in May 2011 when Singh was driving a yellow taxi in New York City. On the night of May 6, a 26-year-old woman hired his cab and fell asleep in the back seat during the journey.
Prosecutors said Singh allegedly drove away from the intended route and stopped on a secluded road. When the woman woke up, she found Singh threatening her with a knife. Authorities said he tied her hands and feet, gagged and blindfolded her before sexually assaulting her.
The DOJ said the revocation of Singh’s citizenship was based on findings that he had fraudulently obtained naturalization by failing to disclose his criminal conduct during the citizenship process. Singh remains incarcerated and will continue serving his sentence.
