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Yugoslavian man denaturalized for allegedly concealing criminal history during naturalization

Jun 8, 2026

Yugoslavian man denaturalized for allegedly concealing criminal history during naturalization

Tahir Lekaj, a 43-year-old native of Yugoslavia admitted to the United States in 1999, is facing denaturalization after being convicted of sexually abusing a child under age 15. When Lekaj applied for naturalization in 2004, he falsely claimed under oath that he had never committed a crime for which he was not arrested. He naturalized in May 2005. However, in 2022, Connecticut convicted him of two counts of sexual abuse of a child, with evidence showing the victim was 10 years old when abuse began in January 2003. The Department of Justice filed a complaint alleging he illegally procured citizenship through false testimony and concealment of material facts.

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