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The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a civil complaint to denaturalize a convicted child sex offender on Friday, court documents allege.
Erwin Roberto Galindo, who became a naturalized United States citizen in January 2015, allegedly sexually abused an 11-year-old in 1997 and a 14-year-old in 2009, according to court documents filed by the department. He was also convicted in California “on two counts of lewd or lascivious acts upon a child,” while other charges, including rape and sexual penetration by threat, were dropped. (RELATED: Trump Admin Sues Illegal Migrant For Nearly $1 Million Over Failure To Self-Deport)
“[The] Defendant willfully misrepresented and concealed his criminal conduct throughout his naturalization process,” the document reads in part. “Had he disclosed his criminal conduct, it would have clarified that he was ineligible to naturalize.”
Galindo answered no when asked, “Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?”
According to the documents, Galindo also “never disclosed or discussed—during his naturalization interview or elsewhere in his naturalization application—having ever committed sex offenses against minors, including M.G. or J.R., crimes for which he had not then been arrested.”
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Division Brett A. Shumate speaks during the investiture ceremony for U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden April 13, 2018 at the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“This Department of Justice will continue to strip citizenship from those who commit heinous crimes and conceal them during the naturalization process,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “American citizenship is a great and sacred privilege that must be earned honestly,” she continued.
