The US Justice Department has initiated a civil legal action aimed at revoking the citizenship of Kemal Mrndzic, a man deemed a Bosnian war criminal. The department claims that Mrndzic failed to reveal his involvement as a guard at the infamous Celebici prison camp during his immigration process. At this camp, numerous atrocities were committed against the detainees, including brutal acts of violence, torture, and sexual assault.

Misperceptions Around Asylum

According to Brett Shumate, a Justice Department official, the Trump administration made it clear that individuals who persecute others should not enjoy the privileges of asylum in the United States. Shumate emphasized that this legal case underscores the priority the US government places on maintaining the integrity of its naturalization process.

The Case Against Mrndzic

In October 2024, a jury found Mrndzic guilty on multiple counts of criminal fraud and misrepresentation concerning his successful application for both a US passport and naturalization certificate. He deliberately omitted details related to his military service and his actions as a prison guard who persecuted inmates during the Bosnian war.

As a result of these findings, Mrndzic received a sentence of over five years in prison in January 2025.

Context of the Bosnian War

The Bosnian War ensued following the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, culminating in tragic events such as the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995. Recognized by the United Nations as an act of genocide, this horrific event saw over 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys systematically murdered by Bosnian-Serb forces—marking it as Europe’s deadliest mass atrocity since World War II.

The Celebici prison camp was run by Bosniak and Bosnian-Croat forces, who were themselves implicated in extensive killing sprees in regions under their control. The ramifications of these atrocities led to the trial of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes and genocide, and ultimately paved the way for the US-brokered Dayton Peace Agreement on December 14, 1995.