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www.desitalkchicago.com – that’s all you need to know 14 CITY VIEWS May 29, 2026 Congressman Krishnamoorthi Denounces Proposed Constitutional Amendment Barring Naturalized Citizens From Congress, Federal Posts C ongressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a naturalized citizen who immigrated to the United States as an infant, released a statement May 20, 2026, in response to Representative Nancy Mace’s proposed constitutional amendment to bar naturalized citizens from serving in Congress, the federal judiciary, and Senate-confirmed government positions. “My parents brought me to this country as an infant because they believed in the American dream of a better life and in a uniquely American promise: that in this country, what matters is not where you came from, the color of your skin, whom you love, or how you worship, but your character, your hard work, and your commitment to American values.” He condemned Representative Mace’s proposal as “a betrayal of that promise and of a principle that has helped define the American story since our founding.” “As President Reagan often said, ‘anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American’,” Rep. Krishnamoorthi quoted. “From Alexander Hamilton helping shape our repub- lic to generations of naturalized citizens who strength- ened our communities, widened the horizons of what America could become, and answered the call to public service, America has always drawn strength from people who chose this country as their own. In this country, patriotism is measured not by birthplace, but by service,” the Indian American Congressman noted. “Generation after generation, naturalized citizens have renewed our nation — and countless have worn the uni- form of the United States and, too often, given the last full measure of devotion for the country they chose to make their own. The responsibility of American citizenship is not simply to enjoy the blessings of freedom, but to carry forward the values of this country and leave it better for the next generation,” Krishnamoorthi emphasized. “To suggest that Americans who are willing to serve this country, fight for it, and even give their lives for it are somehow not American enough to serve in public office is an affront to one of the most enduring principles of the American story. Long after our nation forgets the electoral ambitions of those who sought power by demonizing naturalized citizens, those very Americans will continue to contribute, to sacrifice, and to carry forth the promise of America,” he added. On the same day, Krishnamoorthi, a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, raised alarm over rising Islamophobia and antisemitism during a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelli- gence hearing marking 25 years since 9/11, days after the killing of three people at a San Diego mosque. “More than twenty years after 9/11 happened, Islamo- phobia in the U.S. has not gone away,” Krishnamoorthi said. “Just this weekend, we saw the horrific killing of three people at a San Diego mosque.” Krishnamoorthi asked witnesses whether they agreed that “Islamophobia and hate have no place in America” — receiving unanimous agreement. Jamil Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, who identified himself as Muslim, echoed Krishnamoor- thi’s concerns and warned that antisemitism and anti- Muslim hate are rising together. “As a Muslim, I don’t like Islamophobia,” Jaffer said. “We have seen a rise in both these trends — antisemi- tism and anti-Islamism— here in the United States.” Jaffer added that “the same people who hate Jewish people hate Muslims just as much,” emphasizing that Americans are “stronger together than at each other’s throats.” Krishnamoorthi also condemned rhetoric from elected officials who he said were equating Muslims with terrorism and explicitly calling for “more Islamophobia.” The same day, along with several other lawmakers, re- introduced the Hate Crimes Commission Act alongside, joined by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and House co-leads Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY). This bicameral legislation aims to strengthen the nation’s response to hate crimes, improve hate crime re- porting, and identify strategies to prevent bias-motivated violence, the lawmakers contend. The legislation would establish a bipartisan United States Commission on Hate Crimes to examine the factors driving hate crimes, barriers to accurate reporting, and evidence-based ap- proaches to prevention, while directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to audit federal hate crime data collection systems. “No one should have to live in fear because of who they are, how they worship, whom they love, or where they come from,” Krishnamoorthi said, adding, “As hate- fueled violence and intimidation continue to threaten communities across our country, we need stronger tools to understand what is driving these attacks, improve reporting, and identify strategies that can help prevent future violence. The Hate Crimes Commission Act will help strengthen our response to hate crimes and better protect communities from acts of hate.” His views were echoed by Gillibrand and Velasquez. According to the FBI, more than 11,000 single-bias hate crime incidents involving nearly 14,000 victims were reported in 2024, targeting Americans on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender iden- tity, disability, and other protected characteristics. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:SCREENSHOT FROMVIDEO ON FACEBOOK @RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, speaking on the issue of naturalized citizens being barred from federal public office and appointments. A n Illinois man of Indian origin was sentenced in federal court May 21, 2026, to 15½ years in prison without parole for taking part in an elder fraud conspiracy in which victims liquidated savings and retirement accounts to buy gold bars, coins, and cash. Twelve victims identified to date lost over $6 million in the scheme, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri, said. Syed M. Makki, 38, a citizen of India, acted as a courier for the conspiracy, in which he picked up gold bullion and cash from victims throughout the country and delivered it to co-conspirators. United States District Judge Greg Kays also ordered Makki to pay $4,754,000 in restitution and ordered forfeiture of the gold bars, plus a money judgment. From 2023 through March 31, 2024, conspirators put malware on people’s computers with a phone number to call. When the victims called, they falsely represented themselves as ‘Microsoft’ employees, banking officials, government employees, and law enforcement officers. The conspirators convinced the victims, who were elderly, that their identities had been compromised, and that their money was not safe in banks. Having established relationships with the victims, who ranged in age from 61 to 80 years old, the perpetrators had the victims liquidate bank and retirement accounts and buy gold bullion in the form of gold bars or gold coins with the pro- ceeds. When the gold was delivered to the victims’ houses, conspirators directed the victims to provide the gold for ‘safekeep- ing’ to a co-conspirator, including Makki. Sometimes conspirators instructed the victims to package the gold and ad- dress it to the ‘Department of Justice’ in the name of a specific person, to further the false impression that victims were dealing with trustworthy officials. Makki and others picked up the gold or cash and then transported it across state lines to co-conspirators. On March 25 and 26, 2024, Makki picked up 16 gold bars, weighing one kilo- gram apiece and worth more than $1 mil- lion, from victims in Littleton, Colo. and Kansas City, Mo.. On March 27, 2024, he transported the gold bars to Ill. to deliver them to co-conspirators. That date, he was arrested in possession of the gold bars by a Morgan County, Ill., Deputy Sheriff and an Illinois State Highway Patrol Sergeant. Indian Resident Of Illinois Sentenced For Elder Fraud Conspiracy Involving Gold Bars By a StaffWriter