Overview
- Federal prosecutors filed a civil denaturalization complaint on Feb. 18 in the Southern District of Florida, with the case assigned to U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore.
- The complaint alleges Philippe Bien-Aime first entered the U.S. in 1997 using a photo-switched passport as Jean Philippe Janvier and was later ordered removed by an immigration judge.
- Investigators say DHS and USCIS fingerprint comparisons, developed through the Historic Fingerprint Enrollment project, indicate the same person later naturalized in 2006 as Bien-Aime.
- Prosecutors contend he obtained residency through a marriage they say was invalid due to an existing marriage in Haiti and that he made false statements during immigration proceedings.
- Bien-Aime’s attorney says they are reviewing the filing and will respond in court, and a successful government case could raise questions about his eligibility for prior municipal offices under North Miami’s citizenship requirement.