NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained the partner of former North Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aim this week, weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a case to revoke the citizenship of Bien-Aim.
Local 10 News learned Saturday that Sarahjane Ternier, of Haiti, was detained Wednesday and is being held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach.
Ternier’s detainment comes after authorities said Bien-Aime, who is also from Haiti, faked his identity and more to stay in the country and become a U.S. citizen.
Federal prosecutors allege Bien-Aime entered the U.S. as Jean Phillipe Janvier with a fraudulent passport 25 years ago and authorities ordered him deported.
Instead, they say, he took on the new name and became a naturalized citizen in 2006.
A few years later, North Miami voters elected him councilman, then their mayor.
Bigamy is also among the federal allegations against the former mayor. Ternier is the mother of three of Bien Aime’s children.
Bien Aime’s case is being litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Bien-Aim told Local 10 News by phone Saturday that he is not able to comment on Ternier’s arrest.
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