Federal prosecutors say the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit aiming to revoke the U.S. citizenship of former North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aimé, alleging he hid an earlier deportation order and misrepresented his identity during the naturalization process.
A former mayor of North Miami could face the loss of his US citizenship as a civil case against him moves forward. The ex-mayor allegedly used two different identities to obtain immigration benefits and US citizenship.
A news statement released by USCIS states that a civil denaturalization complaint against Philippe Bien-Aime, also known as Jean Philippe Janvier, has been filed this week in US District Court in Miami. Bien-Aime, a citizen of Haiti by birth, allegedly used a fraudulent passport to obtain entry into the US under the Janvier identity.
USCIS said the investigation found that Bien-Aime entered the United States using a fraudulent, photo-switched passport under the Janvier identity. The agency said he was placed in removal proceedings in 2001 and ordered removed under that name. He appealed but later withdrew the appeal, telling authorities he had returned to Haiti, USCIS said.
Investigators allege he remained in the United States and later used a new name and date of birth, marrying a U.S. citizen to obtain lawful permanent resident status. USCIS said that marriage was fraudulent and invalid because he was already married to a Haitian citizen. The agency said he naturalized in 2006 under the Bien-Aime identity after making false statements in adjustment and naturalization proceedings.
USCIS said the alleged fraud was confirmed through fingerprint comparisons tied to a joint USCIS-Justice Department effort called the Historic Fingerprint Enrollment project.
As with any legal case, Bien-Aime is innocent until he is found guilty by a court of law. The case will be prosecuted by the DOJ’s Office of Immigration Litigation and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
