The U.S. Department of Justice has officially launched a legal battle to revoke the citizenship of Victor Manuel Rocha, the former American diplomat who recently admitted to spending decades as a covert operative for the Republic of Cuba.
The civil denaturalization complaint, filed yesterday in the Southern District of Florida, marks the latest chapter in a case that has rattled the upper echelons of the U.S. foreign service.
Rocha, a Colombian native, rose through the ranks of the U.S. government to become a high-level official and former ambassador. However, according to federal prosecutors, that entire career was built on a foundation of deception.
In 2024, Rocha pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, admitting that his work for Cuban intelligence began as early as 1973—five years before he even became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
READ: Two Decades Of Deception: Colombian Man Exposed For Stealing Identity To Vote In Florida
“Under no circumstances should an agent of a foreign adversary be permitted to hold the title of American citizen,” stated Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. He emphasized that the Justice Department’s mission is to “root out these fraudsters” and ensure the naturalization process remains sacred for those who follow the law.
The government’s case centers on the claim that Rocha lied under penalty of perjury during his 1978 naturalization process. At the time, Rocha swore that he had not committed any crimes, was not affiliated with the Communist Party, and was dedicated to the principles of the U.S. Constitution. The DOJ now argues those were all falsehoods, as Rocha was already actively furthering the interests of the Cuban regime.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones noted that Rocha was far from a “low-level operative,” describing him instead as one of the most prolific Cuban spies ever caught in the United States.
“The complaint alleges that Rocha obtained American citizenship through lies, concealment, and betrayal,” Quiñones said. “A person who secretly serves communist Cuba should not keep the privilege of United States citizenship, even while in prison.”
READ: The High Price Of ‘No’: Florida Man Slashed Ear-To-Ear On Beach Over A Cigarette, Cellphone
The civil complaint lists seven independent counts against Rocha. These include allegations that he gave false testimony during his citizenship exam, concealed material facts regarding his espionage, and lacked the “good moral character” required for naturalization due to his unlawful acts.
The move to strip his citizenship follows his criminal conviction and current 15-year prison sentence. While the criminal case established his guilt regarding espionage, this civil proceeding focuses specifically on his status as a citizen. The Department of Justice clarified that the claims in this new complaint are currently allegations, and a final determination of liability has not yet been made.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is now being litigated by the Civil Division’s Denaturalization Unit alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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