*The United States Department of Justice has filed a civil case to revoke the U.S. citizenship of former North Miami mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, accusing him of concealing his true identity and immigration history during naturalization. The case was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, NBC News reports.
Federal authorities allege that Bien-Aime, a native of Haiti, first entered the United States in 1997 using a fraudulent passport under the name Jean Philippe Janvier. In 2000, an immigration judge ordered his removal for fraudulent entry. He initially appealed the ruling, but prosecutors say he later withdrew that appeal while claiming to have returned to Haiti — all while allegedly remaining in the U.S. under the name Philippe Bien-Aime. DHS records, including fingerprint analysis, reportedly confirm his identity.
Bien-Aime became a naturalized citizen in 2006 and was elected North Miami mayor in 2019. He resigned in 2022 to run for a Miami-Dade County Commission seat but did not win. The DOJ also claims that his marriage to a U.S. citizen, which led to permanent resident status, was invalid because he was still married in Haiti and submitted a fraudulent divorce certificate.
Denaturalization cases are complex and lengthy, with deportation proceedings requiring even more time. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones emphasized, “United States citizenship is a privilege grounded in honesty and allegiance to this country. If proven, we will ask the Court to revoke a status that was never lawfully obtained.”
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Bien-Aime’s case raises questions about his eligibility for office, as North Miami requires candidates to be U.S. citizens eligible to vote at the time of election.
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