My wife became a United States citizen through marriage and naturalization in 2009. She freely and proudly took the Oath of Allegiance, fully understanding what it meant: she was pledging her allegiance to her new adopted country, the United States of America. She took that oath seriously then, and she still does today.

That is why both she and I believe that anyone who knowingly lies or commits fraud to obtain U.S. citizenship should be held accountable under our laws. Citizenship is an extraordinary privilege, and if it is proven through due process that someone obtained naturalization through deliberate fraud, then the laws governing denaturalization and removal should be enforced.

My wife’s commitment went even further. She chose not to pursue dual citizenship with the Philippines, the country of her birth. Our sons were born in Ohio, and when we visited the Philippines, they also declined the opportunity to pursue dual citizenship.

Yet the Philippines has continued to welcome our family ...