The Trump administration on Monday, June 8, filed legal actions seeking to revoke the U.S. citizenship of 17 naturalized Americans accused of immigration fraud or other serious crimes. According to government officials, this marks the largest single citizenship revocation initiative in American history.
Historically, denaturalization cases have been rare. Between 1990 and 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an average of only 11 citizenship revocation cases per year. The current effort represents a significant escalation in the administration’s broader immigration
enforcement agenda.
Under long-standing U.S. law, the government may revoke the citizenship of foreign-born Americans if it can prove they obtained citizenship through fraud, misrepresentation, or by concealing material facts, particularly criminal conduct. However, the denaturalization process is typically lengthy, complex, and requires a federal court ruling through either civil or criminal proceedings.
As part of its intensified immigration enforcement strategy, the Trump administration expanded the categories of individuals eligible for denaturalization in 2025. Last month, the Department of Justice filed a dozen denaturalization cases, which at the time was considered one of the largest such efforts in recent years. The latest round of 17 cases
surpasses that number.
Among those targeted are a Haitian-born individual accused of sexually abusing his daughter; a former Yugoslav national convicted of child sexual abuse; a Mexican-born citizen convicted of possessing child pornography; a former Catholic priest from Colombia accused of sexually abusing children; an Indian-born individual accused of submitting fraudulent H-1B visa applications; and a Cuban-born woman accused of participating in a tribal casino fraud scheme.
In complaints filed in federal courts across the country, the Department of Justice argues that the individuals either concealed criminal conduct during the naturalization process or otherwise failed to meet the legal requirements for citizenship. Government attorneys contend that the defendants did not satisfy the “good moral character” standard required
for naturalization.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department will maintain a “zero-tolerance policy” toward abuse of the naturalization system. “Criminal aliens are lying about their past crimes, including drug trafficking, sexual offenses, and fraud, to obtain American citizenship,” Blanche said.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described U.S. citizenship as “a privilege that must be earned honestly.” He added that the administration would continue pursuing every available legal avenue to revoke citizenship and remove individuals who obtained it unlawfully.
Those facing denaturalization will have the opportunity to defend their citizenship in federal court. If a judge ultimately revokes their citizenship, they would revert to lawful permanent resident status and lose all rights and protections associated with U.S. citizenship,
including protection from deportation. They could then face removal proceedings depending on the circumstances of their case.
The administration’s expanded use of denaturalization is expected to generate significant legal and political debate, as supporters argue it protects the integrity of the immigration system while critics raise concerns about due process and the broader implications for naturalized American citizens.
