A NYC Defense Lawyer Explains When Falsely Claiming Citizenship is a Crime
Being a United States citizen confers many benefits and privileges, from access to student aid to voting rights. You must be a natural born citizen or must go through the naturalization process in order to receive the benefits of citizenship. This can be a frustrating process for those who wish to immigrate to the United States or for those who are living in the U.S. but who are not citizens and who are thus deprived of citizen’s rights.
In some cases, it is possible an individual could claim to be a citizen even though he is not. When and if this happens, serious penalties could result. If you are accused of citizenship fraud, it is imperative you speak with an experienced NYC defense lawyer to find out what options are available to you. There is a risk of jail time, and even deportation, depending upon the specific allegations you face. Bukh Law Firm, PLLC will work hard to try to help you avoid consequences or face the minimum in penalties if an accusation is made that you falsely claimed citizenship.
When Does Citizenship Fraud Occur?
Citizenship fraud occurs in any situation where misleading statements are made about status as a U.S. citizen. Filing claims for benefits or taking advantage of any of the rights and perks limited to citizens can result in serious charges. Omitting material information can also be a form of citizenship fraud.
Some of the examples of situations where falsely claiming U.S. citizenship can lead to serious legal trouble include:
Registering to vote in any election where voting is limited to citizens, including local elections, state elections, or federal elections.
- Completing an application for student loans or financial aid and claiming falsely to be a U.S. citizen.
- Completing an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and claiming on the form to be U.S. citizen.
- Stating that you are a U.S. citizen in order to obtain any state or federal benefits limited to citizens, including access to federal healthcare subsidies or other government social insurance programs.
- Trying to obtain a United States passport while not a U.S. citizen.
In these and other situations, defendants who are accused of citizenship fraud will likely face criminal investigation and legal action by federal authorities who are vested with authority to enforce U.S. immigration laws .
Penalties for Citizenship Fraud
Defendants accused of citizenship fraud can face many different criminal charges, depending upon the specifics of the alleged wrongful actions. It is possible you could be charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits, or other-related documents under 18 U.S. Code Section 1546. You could also be charged with submitting false claims to the government, with voting fraud crimes, and with a variety of other federal and state charges.
Prison is a possible penalty for many of the criminal charges that a defendant could face when accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. Many of the offenses are also deportable offenses, which means if it is possible you could be removed from the United States as a result of a conviction for citizenship fraud.
How a NYC Defense Lawyer Helps If You’re Accused of Falsely Claiming US Citizenship
Your freedom and your ability to stay in the U.S. may be at risk when you’ve been accused of falsely claiming citizenship so you need to take these accusations very seriously. A NYC defense lawyer at Bukh Law Firm, PLLC can provide you with invaluable assistance in fighting charges that have been brought against you. We have experience with citizenship and immigration laws and have successfully represented many clients accused of citizenship fraud. Give us a call as soon as possible so we can put our legal backgrounds and experience to work to help you.
