GOVERNMENT BRINGS CRIMINAL CHARGES TO DENATURALIZE ALLEGED CUBAN TORTURER

In an extraordinary move, the federal government is using criminal proceedings to strip a suspected torturer of his US citizenship.  Eriberto Mederos, originally from Cuba, was approved for naturalization in 1993.  He can to the attention of the INS after a number of other Cuban immigrants claimed he had worked as an orderly at a psychiatric hospital in Cuba where he tortured patients, most of whom were political dissidents. 

In addition to revoking his citizenship, the proceedings against Mederos could result in a ten-year prison sentence.  According to Eyleen Schmidt, an INS spokesperson, using criminal proceedings is unusual, but appropriate given the severity of the charges against Mederos.  Observers believe the government has a difficult case to prove.  The main allegations against Mederos are that he tortured people, and that he lied when saying he was never a member of the Communist Party.  Mederos claims he administered the shock treatment as part of doctors’ orders, and that he was forced to join the Communist Party.

Observers believe it is the first time that criminal proceedings have been used for denaturalization purposes in more than 20 years.  Most denaturalizations are done administratively, within the INS.  The trial is scheduled to begin on July 15.