A federal judge in Maryland revoked the U.S. citizenship of Jorge Antonio Graciano Lara on Sept. 15, 2025, after the Justice Department argued he obtained naturalization by hiding repeated rape of a minor. The U.S. District Court in Maryland granted the government’s motion, finding that the naturalization was unlawfully procured through a concealed crime and misrepresentation. The ruling removes the rights and protections tied to citizenship and places Lara back in the legal position he held before naturalization.
The government’s case centered on whether Lara told the truth during the naturalization process about his criminal history. Prosecutors said he kept secret his repeated sexual abuse of a minor, a fact that would have been central to any decision on whether he could become a citizen. The court agreed, concluding that the fraud met the legal standard for denaturalization, which is the term for revoking U.S. citizenship that was obtained through willful misrepresentation or concealment of material facts.
The department framed the case as part of a broader push to strip citizenship from people who lied about serious crimes—especially sex offenses against minors—during naturalization. The emphasis is simple: honesty in the process matters. If officials later discover a concealed crime that would have mattered to the decision, the government can go to court to undo the grant of citizenship. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this approach aims to protect the integrity of naturalization while warning applicants that false statements can carry lifelong consequences.
Court ruling and legal basis
In the Maryland case, the Justice Department moved to revoke Lara’s naturalization on the ground that he hid the repeated rape of a minor. The court’s order on Sept. 15, 2025 granted that request.
Officials argued the facts he withheld were material, meaning they had the power to change the outcome of his citizenship application. By finding that Lara lied about conduct that directly conflicts with good moral character—the central standard for naturalization—the court determined his citizenship was never lawfully obtained.
This denaturalization aligns with a well-established rule: citizenship is not a shield if it was acquired by fraud. While the government carries a high burden in these cases, courts can revoke citizenship when there is clear proof that an applicant gave false answers or hid grave conduct. The Justice Department points to cases like this to argue that the law does not allow people to benefit from deception. The court’s decision reinforces that message.
While the case documents weren’t discussed in open detail here, the core issue was straightforward and grave: the alleged abuse involved a minor and was repeated. The judge determined that such acts, and the decision to hide them, strike at the heart of whether someone qualifies for the privilege of U.S. citizenship. The result is denaturalization and the loss of the legal status that follows it.
Key takeaway: Denaturalization can follow when an applicant willfully conceals material criminal conduct—especially repeated sexual abuse of a minor—that would have affected the naturalization decision.
Wider enforcement, examples, and community impact
The Justice Department has pursued similar lawsuits against others who allegedly lied about sex crimes to become citizens. One example cited is Moises Javier Lopez, another Maryland man denaturalized after concealing sexual abuse of a minor during his naturalization, with conduct dating back to 2013 and earlier.
Officials say these cases are not isolated but part of ongoing enforcement against applicants who hid violent or sexual offenses that would have changed the outcome of their applications.
Benefits and signals from the department’s approach:
– Protects the integrity of naturalization for applicants who honestly follow the rules.
– Warns applicants and attorneys that dishonesty can result in civil denaturalization proceedings years later.
– Targets serious offenses, with enforcement priorities that include sexual abuse of minors.
Community effects:
– Survivors and their families may view denaturalization as overdue accountability.
– Lawful immigrants who followed the rules may welcome the message that fraud won’t be rewarded.
– Families of those denaturalized may face renewed fear, uncertainty, and potential removal proceedings handled by different federal agencies.
Guidance for applicants and next steps
For lawful permanent residents considering citizenship, the lesson is direct and practical:
– Disclose everything asked on naturalization forms and in interviews, including past arrests, charges, convictions, or conduct that could bear on good moral character.
– If a case is pending or a record exists, expect close review by officials.
– If uncertain about the legal impact of past conduct, consult a qualified immigration attorney before applying.
Hiding facts—especially a concealed crime—can lead to much harsher outcomes, including denaturalization years after approval.
More about government authority and resources
To understand how the government approaches these lawsuits, readers can review the Justice Department’s guidance on denaturalization:
– https://www.justice.gov/civil/denaturalization
This guidance explains the department’s civil authority to bring cases in federal court and the types of fraud or concealed crime that can lead to revocation.
Conclusion
In this Maryland ruling, the court’s judgment means Lara is no longer a U.S. citizen. The decision establishes that his citizenship was invalid because it was obtained through lies about repeated rape of a minor. The Justice Department frames such actions as promoting fairness to those who told the truth—and accountability for victims whose abuse was hidden.
The Maryland court’s ruling on Sept. 15, 2025, ending Jorge Antonio Graciano Lara’s status as a citizen, underscores the enduring message: the naturalization process demands full disclosure, and when that trust is broken—especially by hiding repeated sexual abuse of a minor—the law allows the government to seek revocation.
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This Article in a Nutshell
On Sept. 15, 2025, a federal judge in Maryland revoked Jorge Antonio Graciano Lara’s U.S. citizenship after the Justice Department demonstrated he concealed repeated sexual abuse of a minor during his naturalization. The court found the withheld conduct material to the citizenship decision and concluded Lara obtained naturalization through willful misrepresentation, satisfying the legal standard for denaturalization. The ruling strips Lara of the rights and protections of citizenship and returns him to the legal status prior to naturalization. The case fits within a DOJ initiative to pursue denaturalization for applicants who hide serious crimes, particularly sex offenses against minors, and serves as a warning to applicants and attorneys to fully disclose relevant conduct.
