The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil complaint seeking to revoke the U.S. citizenship of Victor Manuel Rocha, a former American ambassador convicted of acting as a spy for Cuba. Rocha, a Colombian-born diplomat, pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, defrauding the U.S., and passport fraud. He is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence.
The DOJ alleges that Rocha lied during his naturalization process in the late 1970s by concealing his ties to Cuba’s Communist Party and falsely affirming allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. Prosecutors argue that Rocha was never eligible for citizenship due to his alleged unlawful acts, false testimony, and continued affiliations with Cuba’s Communist Party.
Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate stated, "Under no circumstances should an agent of a foreign adversary be permitted to hold the title of American citizen." The DOJ emphasized that Rocha held high-ranking positions within the U.S. government, including serving as ambassador to Bolivia from 1997 to 2000, while allegedly operating on behalf of the Cuban government.
Rocha’s case unraveled when he confessed to an undercover FBI agent in 2022, admitting to working for Cuba for decades and labeling the U.S. as "the enemy." Court documents reveal that Rocha celebrated his activities on behalf of Cuba’s intelligence networks and explained how he maintained secrecy.
The DOJ’s denaturalization effort is part of a broader mission to "root out fraudsters and preserve the sanctity of the naturalization process," according to Shumate. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones described Rocha as "one of the most prolific Cuban spies ever uncovered in the United States."
Rocha’s career spanned nearly two decades in the State Department, with postings in Argentina, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba before his ambassadorship. The DOJ’s complaint seeks to void his citizenship, arguing that he obtained it through fraud and deception.