Rwandan genocide leader charged with immigration fraud in the US
- Faustin Nsabumukunzi was arrested on charges of immigration fraud related to his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
- He allegedly lied in his applications for a visa and citizenship, denying any participation in genocidal acts.
- If found guilty, he could face up to 30 years in prison for the charges against him.
In 1994, the Rwandan genocide resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus over a span of three months. Faustin Nsabumukunzi, who served as a Sector Councilor during this period, played a significant role in the violence, overseeing the killings and facilitating the rape of Tutsi women. After the genocide, he was convicted in absentia by a Rwandan court and sentenced to life in prison. Despite his past, he managed to immigrate to the United States as a refugee in 2003, where he applied for and received a green card in 2007 and later sought U.S. citizenship in 2009 and 2015. Federal authorities conducted an investigation which led to accusations that Nsabumukunzi concealed his involvement in the genocide when he applied for legal residency and citizenship. He allegedly made false statements in his visa, green card, and citizenship applications, denying any engagement in genocide. These deceptions, prosecutors argue, allowed him to live in the U.S. for over two decades under a false identity, evading the justice that his victims did not receive. On April 24, 2025, Nsabumukunzi was arrested at his home in Bridgehampton, New York, and faced charges including visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud. Prosecutors deemed him a risk of flight and a danger to the community, arguing for his detention without bail. His defense attorney, Evan Sugar, portrayed him as a victim of the genocide who has rebuilt his life as a beekeeper and gardener in Long Island. Nevertheless, witnesses revealed a different narrative, stating he actively encouraged violence against Tutsis during the genocide. The case sheds light on the ongoing issues of accountability for war crimes and the complexities of immigration law. If convicted of the charges against him, Nsabumukunzi could face a maximum of 30 years in prison. The prosecution is focused on demonstrating how he manipulated the U.S. immigration process to secure his residency while harboring a history of grave human rights violations, thereby posing a continued risk to society.