U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Seattle, and the FBI have announced that a National of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Miran Kostic, 66, has been charged with attempting to fraudulently obtain US citizenship by failing to disclose his alleged role in the horrific abuse of prisoners.
Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making materially false statements to law enforcement, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of attempted naturalization fraud and 5 years in prison for the false statements charge, if convicted.
According to ICE, in his applications to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, he “repeatedly lied about the abuse he ordered or participated in and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes.”
According to court documents, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB). In that role, he pistol-whipped prisoners, beat them with wooden clubs, stakes, and his fists, and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness. He forced prisoners to beat each other, and he also ordered other members of the APZB to beat prisoners.
In his applications to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), “he repeatedly lied about the abuse he participated in and ordered, and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes, among other lies.”
HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller noted, “Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity.”
“HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.”
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division added, “Miran Kostic benefited from U.S. residency for decades and ultimately attempted to become a naturalized citizen, all while concealing the human rights abuses he committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“Individuals who commit atrocities abroad and lie to immigration authorities to seek safe haven in the United States will be investigated and prosecuted. The integrity of our naturalization process and the enforcement of our immigration laws are paramount concerns.”
“Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle.
“HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.”
“Kostic’s attempt to conceal his violent history in order to obtain U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud and hold individuals accountable for violating our nation’s laws.”
The Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations’ International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals were instrumental in furthering the investigation.
A Bosnian national living in Boise never disclosed on his application for U.S. citizenship that he was once a high-level official in Western Bosnia and was charged with war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina — but information gathered by an ICE @HSI_HQ and FBI investigation allege…
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) September 17, 2026
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