ICE Thwarts Alleged War Criminal from Obtaining U.S. Citizenship—Why It Matters
National and international cooperation boost immigration enforcement efforts.
Federal immigration agents working in partnership with the FBI have determined that a foreign national of Bosnia and Herzegovina attempted to fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship.
During his application process, Miran Kostic, 66, of Boise, Idaho, failed to disclose the fact that war crime charges has been filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to a press release from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making false statements to law enforcement agents. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for each charge of attempted naturalization fraud, and five years in prison for the false statements charge.
During his time as a high ranking official in the Autonomous Zone of Western Bosnia, the release says Kostic allegedly "pistol-whipped prisoners; beat them with wooden clubs, stakes and his fists; and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness."
Kostic's indictment is the latest in a series of aggressive immigration enforcement actions. On Tuesday, ICE also announced the arrest of two illegal aliens in New Jersey.
Zokhid Zakhidov, 37, was arrested in Woodbridge and Khayrullo Payzullaev, 30, was in Hamilton Aug. 23. Both men are Uzbek citizens. The New Jersey arrests fit into a larger nationwide effort to crack down on fraudulent commercial driver's license (CDL) practices that put legal American citizens in danger.
Why It Matters
- The Trump White House has reported on a huge drop in violent crime tied with stricter immigration enforcement. The public needs to be aware of the progress being made.
- As Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller said in the press release, "Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity. HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status."
- Lax enforcement of the federal immigration law under the Biden administration put legal citizens in jeopardy. The nationwide crackdown on illegal alien CDL operators will make the roads safer.
How We Fix It
- Interagency cooperation is essential to effective law enforcement. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations Seattle partnered with the FBI to uncover Kostic's alleged fraud.
- International cooperation is equally important. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs secured evidence to prosecute Kostic from the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- A new partnership between the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proven highly effective. The DOT has certified ICE officers in New Jersey to recognize fraudulent CDL operators.
The Bottom Line
President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin are saving lives and making the country safer. Strict enforcement of immigration law goes in hand with national security.
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