Photo used for illustration purposes only. Credit: RapidEye
Kenyans seeking opportunities in the United States are being urged to submit truthful immigration documents as scrutiny tightens on applicants and naturalised citizens.
Authorities warn that misrepresentation can trigger denaturalisation years later, with digitised records and stricter verification systems exposing inconsistencies decades later.
A cautionary immigration case shared by US-based Kenyan businesswoman and nurse Nafula Sharleen has sparked discussion online after it emerged that a former mayor in Florida could lose his American citizenship decades after naturalisation.
The former mayor has been identified as Phillipe Bien-Aimé, also known as Jean Philippe Janvier, a native of Haiti. Reports indicate he is facing legal scrutiny over alleged misrepresentation in his immigration documents — an offence that can trigger denaturalisation proceedings in the United States.
Nafula shared the case to warn Kenyans planning to move abroad against falsifying records when applying for visas, green cards, or citizenship.
“This man risks losing his US citizenship after 25 years. He arrived in the 1990s while still married back home but used a fake name and a fake divorce certificate to enter the US,” she explained.
According to her account, the former mayor moved to the US in the 1990s and allegedly submitted falsified documents, including a divorce certificate, to support his immigration application.
After arrival, he reportedly married a US citizen, obtained a green card, and later naturalised.
“He married a US citizen, got a green card and later citizenship. But the problem is the documents used in his application were fake,” she added.
She emphasised that US immigration authorities treat misrepresentation as a serious violation.
“If there is one offence USCIS and DHS do not forgive, it is misrepresentation. Using fake documents to obtain a visa, green card or citizenship can lead to deportation,” she warned.
Nafula further noted that increased digitisation of civil records worldwide is making it easier for authorities to detect inconsistencies long after citizenship is granted.
“When your home country digitises records, discrepancies eventually appear. That is when trouble begins,” she said.
She explained that sharing the case is intended to educate those planning to move abroad.
“I share this so people can avoid mistakes that will put them in serious trouble. Don’t fake documents — the system will eventually catch up with you,” she advised.
If proven, the case reveals the long-term legal risks associated with immigration fraud and the strict enforcement standards applied by US authorities.