The Justice Department has identified 384 additional denaturalization cases, marking a sharp escalation in efforts to revoke U.S. citizenship from naturalized Americans.
That push follows Trump's order for USCIS to generate 200 denaturalization referrals a month, even though such cases historically centered on fraud or other narrow grounds.
The scale stands out: 305 denaturalization cases were recorded from 1990 to 2017, while 168 were filed during Trump's first term alone.
The broader immigration crackdown has also tightened legal pathways, including a USCIS hold on applications from 39 "high-risk" countries and the revocation of temporary protected status for more than 1 million people last year.
The campaign comes as the Supreme Court is set to weigh Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship, widening the fight over who can securely claim U.S. citizenship.
With citizenship rules under Supreme Court review, what does the future hold for millions of naturalized Americans and their US-born children?
As legal immigration is set to halve, how will vital US industries like healthcare and tech fill the widening labor and innovation gap?
Twelve million applications and $1 billion in fees are frozen. What is the path forward for the families and businesses caught in limbo?
Denaturalization Escalates: How 2025-2026 DOJ Policies Are Redefining American Citizenship
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, U.S. denaturalization efforts have sharply increased, following a Department of Justice memorandum that made denaturalization a top enforcement priority. This policy shift, supported by presidential statements, led to an expanded and more aggressive approach, with the DOJ focusing on removing individuals accused of defrauding the naturalization process. The Trump administration identified hundreds of cases, raising alarm among immigrant communities and legal professionals. Internal guidance revealed plans to further ramp up these efforts, intensifying concerns about due process and the stability of citizenship for naturalized Americans.