Former Archdiocese Priest Sentenced for Child Molestation, Citizenship Revoked

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jorge Antonio Velez-Lopez, a former priest of the Archdiocese, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually abusing a child under his care. Additionally, he received a one-year sentence for committing passport fraud by lying on his immigration paperwork.

The disturbing crimes spanned six years, during which Velez-Lopez abused the victim while serving as the child’s priest. This abuse occurred prior to his application for U.S. citizenship.

After his naturalization, the truth emerged, leading to his arrest and conviction. His fraudulent immigration claims were uncovered during the investigation, resulting in the revocation of his U.S. citizenship.

Upon completion of his prison sentences, Velez-Lopez will be deported to Colombia, his country of origin.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) emphasized their commitment to rooting out fraud in the naturalization process. “Child molesters like Velez-Lopez often believe they can hide behind false paperwork, assuming ICE won’t find the truth amid thousands of records. But we do,” ICE officials stated. “We will continue to defend the integrity of our nation’s naturalization system relentlessly.”

This case underscores the vigilance of law enforcement agencies in protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring the honesty of the immigration system.