Manuel Rocha citizenship revocation sought after ex-US ambassador admits Cuba espionage

US federal prosecutors have moved to cancel the US citizenship of Manuel Rocha, a former US Ambassador jailed for spying. The government said Rocha acted as a secret agent for Cuba for decades. A civil complaint filed in Miami could strip citizenship gained in 1978, adding a new step to the case.

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Rocha, 75, was arrested in late 2023 and later received a 15-year federal prison sentence. Rocha admitted working for communist Cuba over a long period. An undercover FBI recording captured praise for Fidel Castro as El Comandante. Rocha also boasted about work for Cuba, calling it more than a grand slam.

Manuel Rocha US citizenship revocation case filed in Miami

The US Attorneys Office in Miami filed a civil denaturalisation complaint on Thursday. Prosecutors said the action would complete the Colombian-born Rochas fall from grace. Rocha moved to New York City at age 10 with a widowed mother and two siblings. Rocha later became a US citizen after applying in 1978.

Federal law sets a high bar for taking away citizenship. Prosecutors must show convincing evidence of illegal naturalisation. The standard also covers concealment of important facts and wilful misrepresentation. Court filings said Rocha lied under oath. Prosecutors alleged Rocha claimed belief in the US Constitution and denied Communist Party ties.

"The Southern District of Florida helped take down one of the most prolific Cuban spies ever uncovered in the United States,\" said US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinones for the Southern District of Florida. \"This civil denaturalisation case is about finishing the job.\"

Manuel Rocha US citizenship case and long-running Cuba spy allegations

Under the plea agreement, Rocha said contact with Cuban intelligence began in 1973. That was five years before the US citizenship application. Rocha met agents during a student programme in Chile. It happened near the end of socialist President Salvador Allendes rule. Rocha later followed Havana’s direction, prosecutors said.

After the Chile programme, Rocha enrolled in masters programmes at Harvard and Georgetown Universities. The pathway ended with a job at the US State Department. Rocha later held senior assignments. Posts included ambassador to Bolivia and roles in Argentina and Mexico. Rocha also served in the White House and the US.

Rocha pleaded guilty to 15 federal counts, which avoided a trial. A trial could have revealed more about actions taken for Cuba. Officials have not said when prosecutors first suspected spying. The plea deal limited public detail on what Rocha did. It left questions about what Cuba gained during Rocha’s government service.

Manuel Rocha US citizenship case and denaturalisation policy focus

The Justice Department has put more effort into denaturalisation cases in recent years. Last year, it issued an internal memo to prosecutors. The guidance asked teams to prioritise cases involving national security risks. The memo listed threats including terrorism and espionage. Rocha’s case sits within that broader focus.

An Associated Press investigation said warning signs were missed during Rocha’s career. It cited a longtime CIA operative who received a warning nearly two decades ago. The warning said Rocha was acting as a double agent. Other intelligence suggested the CIA knew by 1987 about a super mole inside government.

Some officials suspected that mole could have been Rocha, the AP investigation reported. Over the past two years, the FBI, US State Department and CIA have worked on the case. They have tried to identify what Rocha may have provided to Cuba. Rocha was debriefed for months in prison, with unclear results.

The civil case now adds to Rocha’s criminal sentence and guilty plea. Prosecutors said the central issue is whether citizenship was gained through false statements. The Miami filing could remove a status Rocha held for decades. The process also reflects wider US steps to handle espionage-linked naturalisation cases.

With inputs from PTI