Personation or misuse of papers in naturalization proceedings
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, whether as applicant, declarant, petitioner, witness or otherwise, in any naturalization or citizenship proceeding, knowingly personates another or appears falsely in the name of a deceased person or in an assumed or fictitious name; or
Whoever knowingly and unlawfully uses or to use, as showing naturalization or citizenship of any person, any order, certificate, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, judgment, decree, or exemplification, or copies or duplicates thereof, issued to another person, or in a fictitious name or in the name of a deceased person—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 766 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to pretend to be someone else, or use a fake name or a dead person's name, in a naturalization or citizenship proceeding. It is also a crime to use, or try to use, citizenship papers issued to another person or under a fake or dead person's name.