USCIS Plays Key Role in Denaturalization Process to Begin for Former Mayor of the City of North Miami

The former elected official committed document and marriage fraud to obtain U.S. citizenship

MIAMI – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice led an investigation that has resulted in the filing this week of a civil denaturalization complaint in the U.S. District Court of Miami, Florida against former Mayor of the City of North Miami, Philippe Bien-Aime.

Philippe Bien-Aime, also known as Jean Philippe Janvier, a native of Haiti, used two identities to procure immigration benefits — and eventually acquire U.S. citizenship — after illegally entering the United States.

Bien-Aime's immigration fraud was discovered and confirmed through a comparison of fingerprints that he provided under the two identities. That comparison is part of an ongoing national initiative called the Historic Fingerprint Enrollment project, a joint effort of USCIS and the Justice Department.

Before he became a U.S. citizen under the name Philippe Bien-Aime, the defendant used a fraudulent, photo-switched passport to enter the United States under the name Jean Philippe Janvier.  In 2001, Bien-Aime was placed in removal proceedings and ordered removed under the Janvier identity.  He appealed the removal order, but he withdrew the appeal, representing that he had returned to live in Haiti. In reality, Bien-Aime remained in the United States and, using the new name and date of birth, married a U.S. citizen to obtain permanent resident status.  The marriage was fraudulent and invalid because he was already married to a Haitian citizen.  After making numerous false and fraudulent statements in adjustment and naturalization proceedings, he naturalized in 2006 under the Bien-Aime identity.

The complaint alleges that Bien-Aime illegally procured naturalization for several reasons.  First, he was subject to a final removal order, which disqualified him from naturalization and precluded the former Immigration and Naturalization Service from considering his application for permanent resident status.  Second, the removal order prohibited USCIS from considering his naturalization application and granting U.S. citizenship.  Third, he did not lawfully adjust status to permanent resident because of his fraud and because his marriage was fraudulent and not legally valid.  Fourth, he provided false or misleading information under oath in his adjustment and naturalization interviews to obtain immigration benefits when he denied that he was subject to a removal order and denied that he lied to U.S. government officials.  He also provided false testimony about his children and former residential addresses.  The complaint also claims that Bien-Aime's naturalization should be revoked because he concealed and misrepresented facts that were material to his qualifications for U.S. citizenship.

The case was investigated by USCIS of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and will be litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division's Office of Immigration Litigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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