BEERSHEBA — The Beersheba Administrative Affairs Court ordered the revocation of the Israeli citizenship of Wilfredo Plaites Capota, a Cuban national, after determining his marriage to an Israeli citizen was fictitious and used solely to obtain legal status. Capota immigrated to Israel in 2011 and received citizenship under the Law of Return's provisions for spouses of Israeli citizens.
In 2012, the Interior Ministry received an anonymous letter raising suspicions about the authenticity of the marriage. The Population and Immigration Authority later filed a petition to cancel Capota's citizenship, alleging he secured legal status through a marriage that was not genuine and was entered into solely for immigration purposes. Subsequent interviews with the couple revealed they had separated approximately two months after arriving in Israel.
During questioning, Capota admitted the marriage was intended to help him obtain legal status in Israel and improve his quality of life. He left Israel in 2016 and has not returned since. Authorities attempted to locate Capota in Cuba and Canada to notify him of the legal proceedings through diplomatic channels, social media platforms, and alternative methods of service but were unsuccessful.
Deputy President of the Beersheba Administrative Affairs Court, Judge Yael Raz-Levy, accepted the state's position that Capota's citizenship was acquired through misrepresentation. She wrote that “Capota's departure from Israel in 2016 and his prolonged absence weakened his connection to the country.” She added that “citizenship is intended to reflect a meaningful and ongoing bond with the State of Israel.”
Raz-Levy emphasized that revoking citizenship serves the public interest by protecting state sovereignty and preserving the integrity of Israel's immigration and citizenship laws. She added that the decision helps prevent abuse of marriage as a means of obtaining legal status through improper means. The court ruled that Capota may request the cancellation of the judgment within 30 days of becoming aware of it, at which point a new hearing would be scheduled.