U.S. seeks to strip citizenship from American diplomat turned Cuban spy

Federal prosecutors are seeking to strip former U.S. diplomat Victor Manuel Rocha of his American citizenship, arguing he fraudulently obtained naturalization decades ago while secretly working as an agent for Cuba

Federal prosecutors are seeking to strip former U.S. diplomat Victor Manuel Rocha of his American citizenship, arguing he fraudulently obtained naturalization decades ago while secretly working as an agent for Cuba.

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The complaint, filed in federal court in Miami, alleges Rocha lied repeatedly during his 1977 and 1978 naturalization process by denying any ties to the Communist Party, denying he had committed crimes, and swearing allegiance to the United States even as he was secretly spying for Cuba. Rocha was born in Colombia.

In December 2023, Rocha was charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government and to defraud the United States.