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The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to revoke the U.S. citizenship of Khalid Ouazzani, a Moroccan-born naturalized American citizen, accusing him of concealing his support for Al Qaeda during his naturalization process.
In a «Complaint to Revoke Naturalization» dated May 8, the Justice Department states that Ouazzani became a permanent resident of the United States in 2004, applied for U.S. citizenship in 2005, and became a naturalized citizen on June 16, 2006. During the process, he swore that he supported the U.S. Constitution and was willing to take the oath of allegiance. Prosecutors argue those statements were false, stressing that he had already been discussing ways to support Al Qaeda since 2004.
According to the filing, Ouazzani «swore an oath of allegiance to Al Qaeda» in 2008 and provided more than $23,000 to the organization between 2007 and 2008, after obtaining U.S. citizenship. The document also states that he and others discussed «fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Somalia» in support of the organization.
In 2010, Ouazzani pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to Al Qaeda, as well as bank fraud and money laundering. According to prosecutors, part of the money sent to Al Qaeda came from fraudulent financial activities.
The Justice Department argues that these admissions show Ouazzani falsely declared his loyalty to the U.S. Constitution during his naturalization process.
The government is now asking the court to revoke his citizenship, cancel his naturalization certificate retroactively to June 16, 2006, and require him to surrender all U.S. passports and other proof of citizenship. The Moroccan national is among 12 denaturalization cases filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
