Isidro Arcenio Alvarado, 57, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from El Salvador, appeared in federal court following an indictment by a grand jury on charges of naturalization fraud and passport fraud. The indictment alleges that Alvarado provided false information about his criminal history during his application for U.S. citizenship and later used the resulting naturalization certificate to obtain a U.S. passport.
According to federal prosecutors, Alvarado is accused of making false statements under oath on his naturalization application and during an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The questions included whether he had ever been involved in forcing sexual contact, committed crimes for which he was not arrested, or lied to government officials to gain immigration benefits. In response to these questions, Alvarado answered “No.” He became a naturalized citizen on October 12, 2022, and subsequently applied for a U.S. passport using the allegedly fraudulent documentation on March 7, 2023.
Alvarado was arrested by police on April 25, 2023, and charged with multiple sex offenses against a child. On July 8, 2025, in Wake County Superior Court in North Carolina, he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child and received a suspended prison sentence ranging from 32 to 58 months; he was also ordered to register as a sex offender. Authorities say Alvarado admitted committing these crimes against a ten-year-old child between January 2019 and April 2021. Law enforcement did not arrest him until after his naturalization process was completed.
United States Attorney Ellis Boyle stated: “We will not tolerate illegal aliens or lying immigrants who get status to stay in this wonderful country if they hurt children,” said United States Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We do not tolerate any crimes against children. If you do this, we will kick you right back out.”
The case is being investigated by officers from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working with the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force as part of Operation False Haven—a continuing initiative targeting individuals who fraudulently obtain citizenship after committing serious felonies such as child molestation. The USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Division is assisting in the investigation.
Alvarado faces up to forty years in prison if convicted; conviction would also result in automatic revocation of his citizenship.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting the case.
Additional details about the proceedings can be accessed through the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or via PACER by searching Case No. 5:25-CR-208-D-BM.
An indictment represents only an accusation; Alvarado is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
