What is an American sovereign citizen?

Sovereign citizens are extremists who claim that the American government has no authority over them even though they live in the United States. Sovereign citizens believe they do not have to pay taxes to the American government or follow its laws.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation monitors sovereign citizens due to their extensive criminal activities, including murder, impersonation of police officers and other officials, mortgage and insurance fraud, and use of counterfeit money and fake identification. They frequently file frivolous lawsuits and harass public officials. People often mistake sovereign citizens for militia group members, but sovereign citizens lack the militia groups' focus on guns.