An Indian-origin businessman has found himself at the center of a major immigration fraud case in the United States. Neeraj Sharma, a New Jersey-based staffing company owner, is among 17 naturalised Americans targeted in a fresh denaturalisation drive launched by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Authorities are seeking to revoke his US citizenship, alleging that it was obtained through fraud and false statements.
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Who is Neeraj Sharma?
Neeraj Sharma, 50, was born in India and later moved to the United States, reports The Times of India. He served as the owner and chief executive officer of Magnavision LLC, a staffing company headquartered in New Jersey. The company was involved in recruiting and placing skilled foreign workers in the US job market.
Sharma became a naturalised US citizen in December 2017 after his citizenship application was approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
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Why Is the US Government Seeking to Revoke His Citizenship?
According to the DOJ, Sharma allegedly filed 11 fraudulent H-1B visa petitions between 2015 and 2017. Investigators claim the applications falsely stated that foreign workers would be employed by a major global financial institution. Authorities also allege that forged executive signatures and fabricated supporting documents were attached to the petitions.
Federal prosecutors argue that the jobs mentioned in the visa applications did not genuinely exist and that the petitions were submitted to secure immigration benefits through false representations.
What Did Sharma Tell Immigration Authorities?
The DOJ says that while applying for US citizenship in 2017, Sharma made several declarations under oath. Prosecutors claim he falsely stated that he had:
Never committed an offence for which he had not been arrested
Never provided false or misleading information to US government officials
Never lied to obtain immigration benefits
Authorities argue these statements were inaccurate because the alleged visa fraud had already taken place before his naturalisation application was approved.
Conviction and Denaturalisation Case
Neeraj Sharma was later convicted on visa fraud-related charges linked to conduct that allegedly occurred between April 2015 and April 2017. The DOJ now contends that he obtained US citizenship through concealment of material facts and willful misrepresentation.
The government has therefore initiated denaturalisation proceedings, a legal process that can strip a naturalised citizen of citizenship if it was acquired unlawfully or through fraud.
Part of a Wider Crackdown
Sharma is one of 17 naturalised citizens named in the latest DOJ action. The cases involve allegations ranging from immigration fraud and wire fraud to serious criminal offences. The Trump administration has described the initiative as part of a broader effort to identify individuals who allegedly secured US citizenship through concealment or misrepresentation.
What Happens Next?
The denaturalisation case will now move through the US court system. If the government succeeds, Sharma could lose his American citizenship and face further immigration consequences. The outcome will depend on whether prosecutors can prove that his naturalisation was obtained through fraud or material misrepresentation.
