At least 4 suspected Nazi war criminals still living in the U.S.

Justice Department data shows that at least four suspected Nazi war criminals still reside in the U.S., part of a group of at least 10 suspects who, despite being ordered for deportation, were not taken by another country, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

The AP identified the four suspects as 92-year-old John Kalymon, 89-year old Jakiw Palij, 89-year-old Theodor Szehinskyj and 97-year-old Vladas Zajanckauskas, who cannot be tried for their alleged crimes during World War II because they did not take place on American soil. Palij and Szehinskyj are accused of serving as guards at Nazi prison camps, while Kalymon and Zajanckauskas are accused with killing Jews during the war. Yet Germany has rebuffed attempts to take in other suspects in order to avoid being seen as a refuge for former members of the Nazi regime.

Federal prosecution in cases involving Nazi war crimes is handled by the department's Office of Special Investigations (OSI). The AP reported that the OSI division has prosecuted 137 suspects since the office was formed in 1979, but only 66 have been successfully exiled from the U.S, with at least 20 more suspects dying while awaiting trial. The division became part of the Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section in 2010.

A 2008 report by the department noted that officials agreed to waive deportation orders or lawsuits in at least 20 cases because of the suspects' failing health.

The AP also reported in June that it had found a former SS unit commander, Michael Karkoc, living in Minnesota after lying about his past in order to gain entry into the U.S.

[Image: Prague, Czech Rep. - 29 April: Nazi Helmet On American Historical Jeep Of Old Car Rangers Club On April 29, 2011 by Jan S. via Shutterstock.com]