The Department of Justice has launched legal proceedings to strip citizenship from a California man convicted of heinous sexual crimes against children — crimes he deliberately concealed during his naturalization process.
In a civil complaint filed January 30, 2026, federal prosecutors are seeking to revoke the naturalized status of Erwin Galindo under a statute that allows citizenship to be withdrawn from those who obtain it fraudulently. Galindo, who became a U.S. citizen in 2015, was later convicted of multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon minors.
Serious Crimes Concealed During Naturalization
Court documents reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse. Galindo sexually abused an 11-year-old child and both sexually abused and raped a 14-year-old child before his naturalization. These acts remained hidden during his citizenship application process, only coming to light afterward when he was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison on two counts under California law.
“This Department of Justice will continue to strip citizenship from those who commit heinous crimes and conceal them during the naturalization process,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement. “American citizenship is a great and sacred privilege that must be earned honestly.”
The case hinges on a specific section of federal law — 8 U.S.C. § 1451 — which provides legal grounds for citizenship revocation when material facts are concealed during the naturalization process. Essentially, the government contends Galindo would never have been granted citizenship had his criminal behavior been known.
Strong Words from Justice Department
Why pursue denaturalization rather than just accepting the criminal punishment? The administration appears determined to make a statement about who deserves American citizenship.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division didn’t mince words: “A monster who commits horrific acts of sexual abuse against children should not ever have become a U.S. citizen,” he declared. “This Administration will not hesitate to take his citizenship back.”
The case is being handled civilly through the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, with its specialized Affirmative Litigation Unit taking the lead. They’re receiving support from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division, according to officials.
The Galindo case represents a growing focus on denaturalization proceedings under the current administration. While relatively rare historically, such actions have seen an uptick in recent years as part of broader immigration enforcement priorities.
For victims of Galindo’s crimes, the citizenship revocation proceedings likely provide little comfort against the trauma they’ve endured. But for the Justice Department, the message is clear: American citizenship, once granted, isn’t necessarily permanent — especially when obtained through deception about crimes the government considers particularly reprehensible.
