North Carolina Man Denaturalized, Ordered Deported for Child Sex Crimes and Naturalization Fraud
Published Feb 24, 2026
A federal judge denaturalized and ordered the deportation of Isidro Arcenio Alvarado, a 58-year-old Salvadoran national, after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship. Alvarado had previously pleaded guilty to child sex offenses in North Carolina state court.
Key points
- Alvarado naturalized on October 12, 2022, but admitted he lied under oath on his naturalization application and during his USCIS interview about his criminal conduct.
- In July 2025, a North Carolina state court convicted him of two counts of indecent liberties with a child, with offenses dating to 2019 to 2021.
- A federal judge revoked his citizenship and sentenced him to active prison time for naturalization fraud.
- ICE will deport Alvarado once he completes his sentence.
- USCIS assisted ICE in the investigation as part of Operation False Haven, which targets child molesters and other serious offenders who fraudulently obtain citizenship.
Who is affected
The case affects naturalized citizens found to have concealed criminal conduct during the naturalization process and is relevant to anyone following USCIS and DOJ denaturalization enforcement.
What to do
Individuals aware of suspected immigration benefit fraud can report it using the USCIS Tip Form.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-13. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
Release Date
02/24/2026
USCIS assisted with the investigation
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced convicted child molester Isidro Arcenio Alvarado, 58, a native of El Salvador, to active prison time after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship. The judge also revoked his citizenship and ordered him removed from the United States.
Alvarado confessed to knowingly making materially false statements under oath and penalty of perjury on his naturalization application and during a naturalization interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He denied his criminal activity and lied to USCIS officials to gain immigration benefits. Alvarado naturalized on Oct. 12, 2022.
On April 25, 2023, police arrested Alvarado and charged him with committing multiple sex offenses against a child. On July 8, 2025, in the Wake County Superior Court of North Carolina, Alvarado pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child. The state judge sentenced him to a suspended prison term and ordered him to register as a sex offender. Alvarado admitted to having committed the crimes from Jan. 1, 2019, through April 10, 2021. In 2019, the victim was only 10 years old.
After Alvarado completes his sentence, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will deport him from the United States.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle announced Alvarado’s sentencing. ICE officers investigated the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship. USCIS helped investigate this case and continues to support Operation False Haven. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.
To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
02/24/2026
Original title: Salvadoran Child Molester in North Carolina Denaturalized and Ordered Deported
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This summary was produced with AI from the official announcement. Only the official source is authoritative.