July 01, (THEWILL) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has ramped up efforts to revoke the citizenship of some naturalised Americans, targeting immigrants who acquired U.S. nationality through the legal naturalisation process.
A Justice Department memo dated June 11 and signed by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate directs federal attorneys to prioritise civil proceedings to strip U.S. citizenship from individuals alleged to have obtained it fraudulently, committed serious crimes, or pose a national security threat.
The directive specifically targets individuals accused of war crimes, human rights abuses, terrorism, and serious criminal convictions.
It instructs the Justice Department’s Civil Division to aggressively pursue denaturalisation cases that meet legal and evidentiary standards.
“The benefits of civil denaturalisation include the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalised criminals, gang members, or individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport,” the memo stated.
According to 2023 data, nearly 25 million U.S. citizens were born abroad and became Americans through naturalisation.
These individuals may now fall under heightened scrutiny as the DOJ outlines 10 priority categories for denaturalisation. These include naturalised citizens involved in war crimes, terrorism, gang activity, fraud, or any crime considered to pose a continued threat to national security or public safety.
At least one person has already been stripped of U.S. citizenship in recent weeks. The Justice Department confirmed that the individual was convicted of collecting and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Critics warn that this move could stoke fears within immigrant communities and potentially weaponise the naturalisation process.
However, proponents argue that the government has a duty to ensure that citizenship is not granted or retained under false pretences or by individuals who endanger public safety.
While civil denaturalisation proceedings have historically been rare and used sparingly, the renewed emphasis under Trump signals a more aggressive posture on immigration and national security ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
