DOJ Seeks Denaturalization of Hassan Sherjil Khan for Concealing Child Sex Crimes
Summary
The Department of Justice filed a denaturalization action against Hassan Sherjil Khan in the Southern District of New York, alleging he obtained U.S. citizenship in May 2013 by concealing his involvement in child sex crimes beginning in 2007-2008. Khan, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison in January 2016 after pleading guilty to coercing and enticing a minor, is being targeted for denaturalization based on claims he lacked good moral character and made willful misrepresentations during naturalization proceedings. The government alleges he concealed his sex crimes when applying for citizenship in August 2012, just four months after traveling abroad to sexually assault the victim when she was fifteen.
Immigration attorneys reviewing naturalization applications should ensure clients understand that concealing serious crimes—including conduct that occurred before filing—can serve as grounds for denaturalization even after citizenship is granted. The DOJ's civil action against Khan is being pursued in parallel with his criminal conviction, demonstrating the government's willingness to use denaturalization as a separate enforcement mechanism for naturalization fraud.
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What changed
The DOJ has filed a denaturalization complaint alleging that Hassan Sherjil Khan illegally procured his naturalization by concealing material facts about his sex crimes against a minor. The complaint alleges he lacked good moral character required for naturalization because he committed a crime involving moral turpitude and gave false testimony during naturalization proceedings.\n\nImmigration practitioners should note that the DOJ is actively pursuing denaturalization of individuals who conceal serious crimes during the naturalization process. The complaint demonstrates the government's authority to revoke citizenship obtained through willful misrepresentations or concealment of material facts, even years after naturalization.
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Apr 25, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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Justice Department Seeks to Denaturalize Sexual Predator Who Sexually Groomed and Assaulted Child Beginning When She Was Eleven
Friday, April 24, 2026
Share For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Today, the Department of Justice announced that it has filed a denaturalization action in the Southern District of New York against Hassan Sherjil Khan, a native of Pakistan. Starting in 2007 or 2008, Khan began communicating online with an 11-year-old girl (the Victim). Until 2013, Khan, knowing that Victim was barely in her teens, continually coerced and enticed her to send him sexually explicit images of herself and to engage in sexually explicit conduct via live video chats. Khan also traveled abroad to engage in sexual acts with the Victim when she was only fifteen.
But when Khan applied for naturalization in August 2012 — just four months after he had traveled to have sexual contact with Victim — he concealed his involvement in his sex crimes. As a result, he was able to procure U.S. citizenship in May 2013. After Khan naturalized, the Victim disclosed his crimes, and he was arrested in September 2015 and charged with coercing and enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, sexual exploitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child outside of the United States, and receipt of child pornography.
“Naturalization and U.S. citizenship will not protect sexual predators from the consequences of their horrific acts,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “If you fail to disclose serious crimes while seeking naturalization, the government will discover your lies and revoke your ill-gotten U.S. citizenship.”
At the time of his arrest, Khan was working as a physician.
On Jan. 14, 2016, Khan pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). He was sentenced to 17 years in prison and remains incarcerated.
The denaturalization complaint against Khan alleges that he illegally procured his naturalization because when he naturalized, he lacked good moral character required for naturalization because he had committed a crime involving moral turpitude and then had given false testimony about his crimes during his naturalization proceedings. The denaturalization complaint also alleges that Khan obtained his naturalization through willful misrepresentations or concealment of material facts.
The litigation is being jointly handled by Deputy Chief Hans H. Chen of the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation-Affirmative Litigation Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Waterman for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Khan’s sex crimes were investigated by the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Rossmiller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The denaturalization claims made in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability regarding Mr. Khan’s naturalization.
Note: This press release is based in part on the press release issued upon Khan’s criminal sentencing in June of 2016.
Updated April 24, 2026 Component Civil Division Press Release Number: 26-396
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