Exclusive: Trump administration ramps up effort to revoke citizenship from naturalized Americans
Exclusive: Trump Admin Intensifies Citizenship Revocation Drive
Exclusive: The U.S. Department of Justice is escalating its campaign to revoke citizenship from naturalized Americans, aiming to file over 250 denaturalization cases by the end of October, as confirmed by a senior official. This surge follows a sharp rise from just 29 cases filed in under two months this year, targeting individuals accused of obtaining citizenship through deceptive practices. The initiative underscores a strategic shift in the Trump administration’s immigration approach, focusing on removing long-term residents who may have misled authorities during the naturalization process.
Legal Justification and Expanded Criteria
Exclusive: Federal law allows for the revocation of citizenship if someone made false claims during the naturalization process or if their eligibility was in question from the start. Denaturalization cases often involve civil or criminal proceedings, depending on the evidence. While the process isn’t confined to criminal behavior, the current emphasis is on individuals who may have acted dishonestly or posed a risk to national security. This broader scope enables the administration to pursue cases that align with its goals of tightening borders and ensuring the authenticity of American citizenship.
“The goal is to ensure that citizenship is granted to those who meet the requirements,” said the senior DOJ official, highlighting the administration’s exclusive focus on reinforcing the integrity of the nation’s legal status system.
Exclusive: The Trump team has redefined the criteria for denaturalization, incorporating a wider range of offenses such as minor frauds and support for extremist ideologies. This contrasts with previous administrations, which prioritized war crimes and terrorism-related cases. By expanding the legal framework, the Justice Department is positioning itself to act aggressively, with the potential to file several hundred more denaturalization cases this year, as noted by the official.
Resource Allocation and Operational Impact
Exclusive: Behind the scenes, the Justice Department is reallocating civil litigators from other divisions, including fraud units, to support the denaturalization effort. This has accelerated case processing, with referrals now including identity fraud, prior convictions, and ties to foreign entities. The official emphasized that these cases require extensive analysis, and the department’s exclusive strategy has created additional strain on legal teams handling complex matters.
US attorney offices are also receiving a surge of referrals, distributing cases nationwide based on jurisdiction and complexity. The senior DOJ official estimated that these offices could file “several hundred more” denaturalization cases this year, underscoring the exclusive nature of the initiative. The focus has shifted from traditional immigration enforcement to a more targeted approach, with denaturalization becoming a central pillar of the administration’s broader policy objectives.
Historical Context and Policy Shifts
Exclusive: Since 2015, nearly 8 million people have become U.S. citizens through the naturalization process. However, the Trump administration is now redefining the standards for citizenship, arguing that revoking it from individuals who misrepresented their backgrounds is essential to uphold national security. This exclusive emphasis on stricter vetting has led to a dramatic increase in denaturalization cases, surpassing the previous average of fewer than 10 cases annually between 2008 and June 2026.
“This tool has been available for decades, but its use is now exclusive to ensuring the authenticity of American citizenship,” the official added, stressing the urgency of the policy change.
Exclusive: The administration’s memo from Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate in June 2025 outlined priorities for the Civil Division, including individuals who engaged in fraud, supported terrorism, or committed felonies. This exclusive framework allows for flexibility in targeting cases that align with the administration’s vision of a more secure and selective immigration system. Critics argue that the expanded scope could lead to overreach, but the DOJ maintains that these actions are necessary to protect the nation’s legal status.
