In a significant development, law enforcement authorities have apprehended a Rwandan war criminal on Long Island, New York, charging him with deceiving U.S. immigration officials.
The United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York announced on Thursday that Faustin Nsabumukunz, a 65-year-old who had been living as a beekeeper for nearly two decades, faces charges of visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud. These charges stem from his alleged falsehoods on green card and U.S. citizenship applications concerning his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
"As alleged, Nsabumukunzi repeatedly lied to conceal his involvement in the horrific Rwandan genocide while seeking to become a lawful permanent resident and citizen of the United States," stated U.S. Attorney John Durham. "For over two decades, he got away with those lies and lived in the United States with an undeserved clean slate, a luxury that his victims will never have, but thanks to the tenacious efforts of our investigators and prosecutors, the defendant finally will be held accountable for his brutal actions."
According to American Military News, Nsabumukunz held a leadership position in Rwanda at the onset of the genocide in 1994. During this period, approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were brutally murdered by the majority Hutu population. The genocide was marked by heinous acts of violence, including murder, rape, and sexual violence.
The U.S. Attorneys Office accused Nsabumukunz of overseeing the violence and directing armed Hutu groups to kill Tutsis in his local sector of Kibirizi. "He set up roadblocks during the genocide to detain and kill Tutsis and participated in killings and violence," the press release detailed.
"For example, Nsabumukunzi ordered a group of armed Hutus to locations where Tutsis were sheltering and the Hutus killed them. Nsabumukunzi also facilitated the rape of Tutsi women by verbally encouraging Hutu men to do so."
Court documents reveal that Nsabumukunz had previously been convicted of genocide by a Rwandan court. However, in 2003, he allegedly lied to U.S. immigration authorities, denying any involvement in genocide to secure entry into the United States. "As alleged, the defendant participated in the commission of heinous acts of violence abroad and then lied his way into a green card and tried to obtain U.S. citizenship," remarked Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the U.S. Justice Departments Criminal Division. "No matter how much time has passed, the Department of Justice will find and prosecute individuals who committed atrocities in their home countries and covered them up to gain entry and seek citizenship in the United States."
This case underscores the importance of vigilance in immigration processes, ensuring that those who have committed grave offenses abroad do not find refuge in the United States. The arrest of Nsabumukunz serves as a reminder that justice, though sometimes delayed, remains a steadfast pursuit.
The commitment of U.S. authorities to hold accountable those who have perpetrated atrocities aligns with the broader conservative principle of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the United States remains a nation of integrity and justice.
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