The United States government has filed a lawsuit to strip the citizenship of Ghanaian-born former Marine, Nicholas Eshun, after he was dishonourably discharged over explicit communications with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl who was later revealed to be an undercover investigator.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Eshun arrived in the United States in 2011 and enlisted in the Marine Corps just months later.
He was granted American citizenship in 2013 under a federal statute that fast-tracks naturalisation for active-duty military personnel.
Undercover
The DOJ said the former Marine’s career ended during an overseas deployment in 2015 when he was caught exchanging sexually explicit messages with someone he thought was a minor. The “14-year-old girl” was in fact an undercover Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agent.
Eshun was later tried in a military court, convicted, and dismissed from the Marine Corps, ending his service four and a half years into the mandatory five-year period required to retain military-based citizenship benefits.
DOJ Seeks Denaturalisation and Deportation
Federal prosecutors have now filed a denaturalisation complaint in the District of Maryland, arguing that Eshun was not legally eligible for military-based citizenship since he failed to complete the required military obligation.u
If successful, the case will not only revoke his citizenship but also pave the way for his deportation to Ghana.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said the lawsuit signals Washington’s resolve to act against individuals who obtained citizenship unlawfully.
“Today’s denaturalisation against Nicholas Eshun, a court-martialed sex offender, demonstrates the United States’ commitment to using every tool available under the law,” Shumate said.
“Thanks to the intrepid investigators of NCIS, we now know the danger this man poses. There is no lawful basis for him to keep the citizenship he secured as one.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also condemned Eshun’s actions:
“As alleged, this defendant betrayed the uniform and abused the trust of this country.
Citizenship is not a shield for criminals who never deserved it. If you commit heinous crimes, you will be held accountable. This is how we make America safe again.”
The case now awaits court proceedings that will determine whether Eshun will lose his U.S. citizenship and face removal from the country.