The U.S. Department of Justice initiated a civil lawsuit on Monday with four charges aimed at revoking the citizenship of Yosmaikel Rodríguez Pérez, a 45-year-old Cuban-American living in Miami-Dade County. He was convicted of defrauding Medicare of nearly $900,000.
According to the DOJ's report, Rodríguez Pérez gained permanent residency in 2004 and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. However, the government alleges he intentionally concealed his criminal history during both processes.
The accusations include conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud. Between April 2014 and August 2016, Rodríguez Pérez, along with two women, ran a medical center that paid kickbacks to pharmacy owners for Medicare referrals, sold unnecessary prescriptions, fabricated fake invoices, and forged documents.
The fraudulent claims to the federal health program amounted to $886,694.
Rodríguez Pérez pleaded guilty, received a 19-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release, and was required to repay $886,649 to the federal government.
The DOJ argues that when applying for naturalization, the defendant lied under oath and concealed material facts that would have disqualified him for citizenship.
“The lawsuit contends that Rodríguez Pérez unlawfully obtained his citizenship as he lacked the good moral character required for naturalization due to his crime of moral turpitude, illegal acts, and false testimony under oath during the naturalization process,” states the DOJ's official release.
The case is being overseen by District Judge K. Michael Moore in the Southern District of Florida.
Rodríguez Pérez is at least the sixth individual in Miami to face denaturalization proceedings this year, according to DOJ case data.
Other cases include Víctor Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia sentenced to 15 years in prison for acting as a Cuban intelligence agent, and Philippe Bien-Aime, a former North Miami mayor accused of using fake names and documents to obtain citizenship.
In March, a Miami federal court revoked Mirelys Cabrera Díaz's citizenship. She was sentenced in 2019 to 29 months in prison for participating in a Medicare fraud scheme exceeding $6 million.
This effort is part of an unprecedented campaign initiated during the Trump administration. Syracuse University researchers report that between January 2008 and April 2026, the federal government pursued only 34 denaturalization cases in total; yet, from May to July this year, the administration launched over 30 new cases.
The DOJ aims to reach at least 250 denaturalization cases by October 2026.
Additionally, Cuba is listed among 19 "high-risk" countries by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as of December 2025, resulting in heightened scrutiny of naturalization applications from individuals originating from the island.
“We refuse to grant impunity to criminals who slipped through to obtain U.S. citizenship. We've only scratched the surface — many more lawsuits are on the way,” warned Brett A. Shumate, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ's Civil Division.
FAQs on U.S. Denaturalization Efforts
What is the basis for revoking Yosmaikel Rodríguez Pérez's citizenship?
Rodríguez Pérez is accused of committing fraud against Medicare and concealing his criminal history during his naturalization process.
How many denaturalization cases has the DOJ pursued recently?
The DOJ has initiated over 30 new denaturalization cases between May and July of the current year, with plans to reach at least 250 cases by October 2026.
Why is Cuba considered a "high-risk" country by USCIS?
Cuba is classified as a "high-risk" country due to concerns about fraudulent activities, leading to increased scrutiny of naturalization applications from Cuban nationals.