DOJ Files Denaturalization Case Against Former North Miami Mayor

Federal authorities have launched a rare denaturalization action against former North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime, alleging he fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship by concealing his true identity and immigration history.

In a 13-page civil complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, prosecutors assert that Bien-Aime “willfully misrepresented his identity and immigration history throughout the naturalization process,” according to court documents reviewed by NBC6.

Alleged Double Identity

The DOJ describes the case as an uncommon but serious denaturalization proceeding. According to the complaint, Bien-Aime is allegedly the same individual previously ordered removed from the United States under a different name.

Court filings cite Department of Homeland Security fingerprint comparisons indicating that the man naturalized as Philippe Bien-Aime is the same person once known as Philippe Janvier.

On July 31, 2000, an immigration judge ruled that Janvier had entered the United States using a fraudulent “photo-switched” passport and ordered him removed to Haiti. Authorities say there is no evidence he ever complied with that removal order.

Additional reporting from Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin states that investigators allege Bien-Aime initially entered the U.S. under the name Jean Philippe Janiver using a similar fraudulent passport scheme.

He was ordered deported in 2001, appealed the decision, then later withdrew the appeal — claiming he had returned to Haiti.

Prosecutors now allege that instead of leaving the country, he remained in the United States, adopted the name Philippe Bien-Aime, changed his date of birth, and pursued lawful status under that new identity.

The complaint further alleges that Bien-Aime secured permanent residency through marriage fraud. Prosecutors claim he married a U.S. citizen while still legally married to a spouse in Haiti.

According to the DOJ, the Haitian divorce certificate he submitted was “counterfeit and fraudulent.”

After what prosecutors describe as “a series of fraudulent statements,” Bien-Aime was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2006.

Federal investigators later uncovered the alleged deception through fingerprint analysis linking records tied to both identities.

Officials say the case is part of a broader national effort by the Department of Justice and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to identify and pursue fraud within the naturalization system.Bien-Aime was elected mayor of North Miami in 2019 and most recently ran unsuccessfully for the Miami-Dade County Commission.

NBC6 reported that no one answered the door at his North Miami residence. When reached by phone, Bien-Aime declined to comment.

His attorney, Peterson St. Philippe, issued a statement saying, “We are aware of the government’s filing and are in the process of reviewing it. We intend to respond through the appropriate legal channels. As this is pending litigation, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

If the DOJ succeeds in revoking Bien-Aime’s citizenship, the consequences could extend beyond immigration status. North Miami’s city code requires candidates to be qualified electors — meaning U.S. citizens eligible to vote and properly registered. Citizenship is a prerequisite for voter registration.

The case underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating alleged naturalization fraud — particularly when it involves individuals who have held public office.

As litigation proceeds, the outcome could have significant legal and political ramifications, not only for Bien-Aime but for broader efforts to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s immigration and electoral systems.