Federal authorities have filed a civil complaint seeking to revoke the U.S. citizenship of former North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, alleging he made false statements about his identity and immigration history during the naturalization process.
In a 13-page filing, the Department of Justice claims Bien-Aime willfully misrepresented key details in order to obtain U.S. citizenship. The government describes the case as a rare denaturalization action and alleges he is the same individual who was previously ordered removed from the United States under a different name.
According to court records, Department of Homeland Security data — including fingerprint comparisons — indicate that the man naturalized as Philippe Bien-Aime matches records for an individual identified as Philippe Janvier. The complaint states that in July 2000, an immigration judge ruled that Janvier had entered the country using fraudulent documents and ordered him removed to Haiti. Authorities say there is no record confirming compliance with that order.
Prosecutors further allege that after the removal proceedings, the individual remained in the United States under a different name and date of birth. The complaint also claims he obtained lawful permanent residency through a marriage that investigators believe was not legally valid, asserting that documents submitted during that process were fraudulent. Bien-Aime was ultimately naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2006, according to the filing.
The alleged discrepancies were uncovered through a fingerprint analysis review conducted as part of a broader federal initiative aimed at identifying potential fraud in the immigration system. Bien-Aime, who was elected mayor of North Miami in 2019 and later ran for the Miami-Dade County Commission, has declined public comment. His attorney said the legal team is reviewing the complaint and will respond through appropriate court proceedings. If the government prevails, the case could have legal implications related to eligibility requirements for holding elected office, which include U.S. citizenship.