Former Connecticut Woman Admits to War Crimes for U.S. Citizenship

UPDATE: A former resident of Connecticut has confessed to lying about her involvement in war crimes to secure U.S. citizenship. Nada Radovan Tomanic, 53, formerly of Hartford and now residing in West Virginia, entered a guilty plea today in federal court in Bridgeport, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

This shocking development, confirmed just hours ago, highlights serious vulnerabilities in the immigration system. Tomanic, who served with the notorious Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1990s, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, with her sentencing scheduled for February 3, 2024.

Federal officials revealed that Tomanic participated in the “physical and psychological abuse” of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners. When applying for naturalization in 2012, she falsely denied any involvement in detention facilities or related crimes. Notably, she even lied about committing serious bodily harm under the laws of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti condemned Tomanic’s actions, stating, “The defendant obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship through lies and deceit, concealing the violent crimes she committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” This sentiment underscores the urgency and gravity of the situation, as it threatens the integrity of the U.S. immigration process.

During an interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Tomanic maintained her false statements under oath, compounding her legal troubles. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan remarked, “Covering up past human rights abuses to attain U.S. citizenship is an egregious offense.”

The FBI, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, is committed to investigating such breaches of trust in the immigration system. Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien emphasized the detrimental impact of such fraud, stating, “Individuals who lie on their naturalization documents undermine the process for all who justly apply to be a part of our great nation.”

As this case continues to unfold, it raises pressing questions about the vetting process for immigrants and the necessity for greater scrutiny to prevent similar incidents in the future. Public safety and the sanctity of the immigration process hang in the balance, making this a critical moment for U.S. immigration policy.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.