Yousif Alhallaq convicted of naturalization fraud for lying about poisoning
A former doctor faces denaturalization after being convicted of naturalization fraud for lying on his citizenship application about poisoning his girlfriend. Yousif Abdulraouf Alhallaq concealed his 2014 attempted murder and assault, for which he was later sentenced to four years in prison.
Yousif Abdulraouf Alhallaq, a former medical doctor, faces denaturalization after a federal conviction for naturalization fraud. The 47-year-old from Canton, Ohio, lied on his citizenship application to conceal that he poisoned his girlfriend in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy.
In December 2014, Alhallaq poisoned his girlfriend's oatmeal with an abortion drug after she became pregnant with his child. He acted to end the pregnancy without her knowledge. The girlfriend discovered the poisoning several years after it occurred. At the time he applied for U.S. citizenship, Alhallaq had not yet been charged for this crime.
False statements on citizenship application
Alhallaq submitted his Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, in 2017. On the form, he answered 'no' to two critical questions. He denied ever being involved in badly hurting or trying to hurt a person on purpose. He also denied ever committing a crime for which he was not arrested.
An immigration officer interviewed Alhallaq in 2018 to review his answers. Under oath during that interview, he verbally confirmed his negative responses to those questions. Based on these false statements, he was granted U.S. citizenship on May 4, 2018. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio stated, "Yousif Abdulraouf Alhallaq, 47, of Canton, Ohio, lied on his Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and during an in-person interview."
Legal consequences and federal action
State authorities later uncovered the poisoning. Alhallaq was indicted on March 18, 2021, on one count of attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault. He pleaded guilty to those charges in September 2021. The court sentenced him to four years in prison for the attempted murder and assault, which involved attempting to unlawfully terminate his girlfriend’s pregnancy.
Federal charges related to his citizenship application were filed in June 2025. Alhallaq was released from prison on his state conviction in August 2025, only to face federal prosecution. A jury found him guilty of naturalization fraud. He now faces a maximum of up to 10 years in prison for that federal crime and will be denaturalized. Following the federal verdict, Alhallaq is in the custody of U.S. marshals.
Government response and public reporting
The investigation was a joint effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Cleveland and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate. USCIS provided critical assistance. Officials publicized the case to highlight enforcement efforts. They urge the public to report suspected immigration benefit fraud using the official USCIS Tip Form.
Sentencing for the federal naturalization fraud conviction is set for January 19, 2027.
