Federal authorities have charged a Rwandan man living in New York for allegedly concealing his participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide in order to fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to CNN, Faustin Nsabumukunzi, 65, was charged with visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud after allegedly hiding his role as a local leader during the genocide. The indictment against the Bridgehampton resident was unsealed in Central Islip, Long Island, revealing stunning accusations about his past.
At his initial court appearance, Nsabumukunzi pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $250,000 bail. Conditions of his release include home detention and GPS monitoring, although he will still be allowed to continue his work as a gardener.
His lawyer, Evan Sugar, denied the allegations, describing Nsabumukunzi as a “law-abiding beekeeper and gardener who has lived on Long Island for more than two decades.” Sugar portrayed his client as a victim of the genocide, emphasizing that he had lost scores of family members and friends during the mass killings. He also stated that Nsabumukunzi was granted refugee status and a green card in the United States due to alleged persecution.
However, federal prosecutors paint a much darker picture. According to witnesses cited by prosecutors, Nsabumukunzi held public meetings during the genocide where he falsely promised Tutsis that they would be protected. In private, he allegedly encouraged Hutus to attack, rape, and slaughter Tutsi civilians. Prosecutors further claim that he was actively involved in coordinating attacks that led to mass atrocities.
When federal agents arrested Nsabumukunzi last Thursday morning and explained the charges, he reportedly said, “I know I’m finished.”
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, strongly condemned Nsabumukunzi’s alleged deception, stating that he committed “heinous acts of violence abroad and then lied his way into a green card and tried to obtain U.S. citizenship.”
“For over two decades, he got away with those lies and lived in the United States with an undeserved clean slate, a luxury that his victims will never have,” added U.S. Attorney John J. Durham.
The 1994 Rwandan genocide resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over a span of about 100 days. It remains one of the most horrifying examples of ethnic cleansing in modern history.
This latest case highlights ongoing concerns about how individuals involved in serious human rights abuses abroad have managed to slip through the cracks of U.S. immigration screening processes. It also raises serious questions about whether additional suspects from similar backgrounds could still be living quietly in the United States today, their past crimes hidden behind false refugee claims.
Federal authorities have emphasized that the investigation into Nsabumukunzi’s background is part of a broader effort to uncover and prosecute individuals who have committed atrocities and subsequently attempted to rebuild their lives in America under false pretenses.
Nsabumukunzi’s case now moves forward through the federal court system, where prosecutors will seek to revoke his citizenship and hold him accountable for allegedly lying about his role in one of the most brutal genocides in recent memory.
This developing story is likely to fuel further debate about immigration vetting procedures, refugee policies, and the federal government’s responsibility to ensure that America remains a safe haven for the truly persecuted, not a hiding place for war criminals.
