Trump Administration Seeks to Revoke Citizenship of 17 Americans in Largest-Ever Denaturalization Push
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jun 8
Trump Administration Seeks to Revoke Citizenship of 17 Americans in Largest-Ever Denaturalization Push
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jun 8
Summary
Seventeen naturalized U.S. citizens are being targeted in new federal court complaints, with the Justice Department alleging they hid crimes, used false identities or otherwise obtained citizenship fraudulently.
The cases span accused child sex offenders, fraud defendants and others the government says lacked the “good moral character” required for naturalization, making them ineligible for citizenship.
Justice officials say the action is the largest denaturalization effort ever, far above the 1990-2017 average of 11 complaints a year and larger than the 12 cases announced last month.
If judges revoke their citizenship, the individuals can contest the cases but would typically revert to permanent-resident status and again become vulnerable to deportation.
The move extends Trump’s broader immigration crackdown after the administration widened in 2025 the categories of naturalized citizens prioritized for denaturalization.
With hundreds more targeted for denaturalization, what past mistakes could now jeopardize a person's U.S. citizenship?
As the government re-examines past naturalizations, is U.S. citizenship becoming a conditional privilege rather than a permanent right?
The 2026 Denaturalization Surge: Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Push to Revoke U.S. Citizenship and Its Legal, Social, and Political Fallout
Overview
In April and May 2026, the Trump administration sharply increased efforts to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans, aiming to strip citizenship from hundreds across the country. The Justice Department announced a dozen new denaturalization cases in May alone, signaling a much faster pace than in previous years. Officials are now seeking to match the total number of cases filed during the administration’s first term within just a few months. This dramatic expansion highlights a major shift in focus and resources, as the administration frames these actions as necessary to protect the integrity of the naturalization system and national security.