A Virginia man's U.S. citizenship is in jeopardy, with authorities saying he failed to disclose his role in human rights abuses in Ethiopia.
Mergia Negussie Habteyes, 58, of Alexandria was arrested Friday on charges he obtained U.S. citizenship by lying on his application, falsely stating that he had never persecuted anyone based on political opinion. He was admitted to the United States as a refugee.
According to the indictment, Negussie is accused of serving as a civilian interrogator at a prison during Ethiopia's Red Terror period. The military regime in Ethiopia was targeting dissidents and abused the rights of tens of thousands of people at the time.
Negussie is accused of brutalizing people imprisoned because of their political opinions.
“Negussie allegedly concealed his role in persecuting Ethiopian prisoners for their political opinions during that country’s so-called Red Terror period when he applied for, and ultimately obtained, U.S. citizenship,” assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski said in a statement.
If convicted, Negussie would have his citizenship stripped and could be deported. He also could face up to 10 years in prison.
