The Trump administration has begun a new push for the denaturalization of foreign-born citizens through the assignment of denaturalization cases to prosecutors in numerous U.S. attorneys’ offices across the country.
The Justice Department has identified 384 foreign-born United States citizens whose citizenship they seek to revoke, though the reasoning for their targeting has not yet been confirmed. Senior Justice Department officials recently shared with their colleagues that civil litigators in 39 regional offices across the country would shortly obtain denaturalization cases to file against the respective individuals.
Denaturalization cases are traditionally handled by the Office of Immigration Litigation, with the new involvement of U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutors potentially signaling an intent to further increase the rate of denaturalization. This push also follows the USCIS’s instruction to officers to refer 100-200 denaturalization cases per month to the Department of Justice in late 2025.
What is Denaturalization?
Denaturalization is the legal process by which the United States government revokes United States citizenship from naturalized citizens, individuals who have already been granted U.S. citizenship after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress.
Denaturalization is historically rare, and there are only two main grounds on which the government can revoke U.S. citizenship. The first one is if an individual procures naturalization illegally, meaning that they were not eligible for naturalization in the first place. The second reason is if an individual deliberately misrepresents or fails to disclose a material fact or facts on their application and examination.
For denaturalization to occur by law, the USCIS must bring forward potential cases to the Department of Justice when there is “sufficient evidence”, and government attorneys will either bring a criminal conviction for naturalization fraud or civil proceedings. Civil denaturalization cases must meet a high burden of proof that the citizenship was obtained unlawfully.
What Does This Mean for Naturalized Citizens?
Denaturalization must occur in a federal court and is a legally complex process. There are strong protections in place, and citizenship cannot be revoked without substantial evidence and due process.
This action by the Trump administration marks an attempt to increase the rate of denaturalizations by involving U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutors across the country. For individuals concerned about past immigration filings or criminal history, seeking legal advice can help protect rights and evaluate risks.
Contact a Naturalization Attorney Today
For decades, Reeves Immigration Law Group has helped individuals with naturalization and visas, successfully handling some of the most complex cases. Our naturalization attorneys are here to stand by you and help you achieve your personalized immigration needs and goals.
We understand that this is a frightening time with consistently changing legislation. If you have concerns about your past immigration filings or previous misrepresentations, contact one of our skilled and experienced naturalization attorneys today to discuss your legal options.
