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Feds Seek To Deport Alleged Nazi Helper
August 31, 2009 - 10:52 AM | by: Mike LevineFederal authorities have stripped an American of his citizenship and are now trying to deport him for allegedly helping Nazis in his native country.
The Justice Department initiated removal proceedings against John Kalymon of Troy, Mich., based on his participation in violent acts of persecution while serving as an armed member of the Nazi-sponsored Ukrainian police during World War II, a Justice Department press release said.
Specifically, the Justice Department filed charging documents in U.S. Immigration Court in Detroit, saying that Kalymon “personally shot Jews while serving” as a member of the Ukrainian police from at least May 1942 to March 1944, according to the press release. At least one of those shot died.
In addition, the Justice Department said, Kalymon helped "forcibly deport" Jews to be murdered in gas chambers and to serve as slave laborers.
“These charges once again demonstrate the resolve of the Department of Justice to deny safe haven in this country to human rights violators, no matter how long ago they committed their heinous acts,” Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer said in the press release. “The ultimate removal of John Kalymon will close a very painful chapter and provide a measure of justice to his victims and their families.”
Kalymon, 88, admitted in earlier court proceedings that he fled with retreating German forces in 1944. He immigrated to the United States from Germany in May 1949, concealing his Ukrainian police service from U.S. immigration officials so he could obtain U.S. citizenship in 1955.
A federal judge in Detroit revoked his citizenship in March 2007, concluding that Kalymon assisted in the wartime persecution of Jews by, “taking part in sweeps of the ghetto during periodic reduction actions; manning cordon posts around the city to prevent Jews from escaping before and during such actions; and hunting for Jews who attempted to hide or flee,” according to the press release.
This comes nearly four months after the Justice Department won a years-long and much-publicized battle against accused Nazi prison guard John Damjanjuk, who was deported to Germany in May to face charges at age 89.
The Justice Department has been investigating similar Nazi-era cases since 1979. Since that time, the Justice Department has won 107 cases, and it has blocked more than 180 suspected participants in Nazi crimes from entering the United States.
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