Salvadoran Child Molester Denaturalized and Ordered Deported

USCIS News Releases

Filed February 24th, 2026

Detected March 5th, 2026

Summary

USCIS announced that a Salvadoran national, Isidro Arcenio Alvarado, has been denaturalized and ordered deported from the US after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining citizenship. Alvarado concealed his criminal history, including child molestation charges, on his naturalization application. This action is part of Operation False Haven.

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What changed

A federal judge has ordered the denaturalization and deportation of Isidro Arcenio Alvarado, a 58-year-old native of El Salvador, after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship. Alvarado admitted to making false statements on his naturalization application and during his interview, denying his criminal activity. He was previously convicted of child molestation offenses in North Carolina.

This case highlights the consequences of immigration benefit fraud and is part of the ongoing initiative "Operation False Haven," which targets individuals who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. Regulated entities and legal professionals should be aware of the stringent vetting processes and the severe penalties for misrepresentation in immigration applications. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for other parties, this serves as a strong deterrent against fraudulent applications.

What to do next

Review internal procedures for identifying and reporting potential immigration benefit fraud.
Ensure all applications and interviews are conducted with utmost accuracy and transparency.

Penalties

Revocation of citizenship and order of removal from the United States. Imprisonment time was also imposed for the underlying offenses.

Source document (simplified)

Salvadoran Child Molester in North Carolina Denaturalized and Ordered Deported

Release Date

02/24/2026

USCIS assisted with the investigation

RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced convicted child molester Isidro Arcenio Alvarado, 58, a native of El Salvador, to active prison time after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship. The judge also revoked his citizenship and ordered him removed from the United States.

Alvarado confessed to knowingly making materially false statements under oath and penalty of perjury on his naturalization application and during a naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He denied his criminal activity and lied to USCIS officials to gain immigration benefits. Alvarado naturalized on Oct. 12, 2022.

On April 25, 2023, police arrested Alvarado and charged him with committing multiple sex offenses against a child. On July 8, 2025, in the Wake County Superior Court of North Carolina, Alvarado pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child. The state judge sentenced him to a suspended prison term and ordered him to register as a sex offender. Alvarado admitted to having committed the crimes from Jan. 1, 2019, through April 10, 2021. In 2019, the victim was only 10 years old.

After Alvarado completes his sentence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will deport him from the United States.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle announced Alvarado’s sentencing. ICE officers investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. USCIS helped investigate this case and continues to support Operation False Haven. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.

To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Last Reviewed/Updated:

02/24/2026

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